Went out fishing sunday for bluegills from the bank. I am experimenting with different baits, none are artificial. Last week i tried corn, it works but took to long to get bites, did catch my largest with the corn last week so theres that.

This week i tried snails that are stuck to the rocks, breaking the shell open and taking the meat out and the gills really like it. And then there is my bait find of the season, store bought peeled and cooked shrimp in bags found in the freezer section, i took a scissor and cut into quarters 1 shrimp, put the piece on a tiny ice fishing jig so the hook is concealed, the meat is white and wow it worked great, better then the snail meat which is mostly black. It stays on the tiny hook pretty good to where the gills cant suck it off as easy, I will now buy frozen bagged shrimp for every trip.

 

 

Nice fish. Love those hard fighting bluegills.

You realize of course that I'm stealing this idea from you. 

Awesome. I like catching bream. I prefer to catch them on small lures, like beetle spins.

I've got a buddy that says "everything will eat a shrimp". This definitely bares that out.

That’s a nice stringer ! You gonna boil em ?

12 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

That’s a nice stringer ! You gonna boil em ?

thanks, we brought 25 blue gills home that day. Wife batters them and fries them, for me she filets them, she also puts some outside in the sun to make dried fish as she is a philipina.

My favorite bluegill bait up here is corn. I use raw shrimp for catties.

 

I will try the shrimp for gills the next time I'm fishing for them. 

 

Thanks!

 

 

Bluegills will eat about anything, but the big ones are a little more selective. I like grasshoppers if I'm using live bait. I usually opt for a piece of a trout worm on a trout magnet head. They come in bright colors that the bluegills love and the trout magnet heads come in light weights that I like to use for gills. 

The youngsters at the neighborhood ponds use hot dogs for bluegills.

Good Fishing  

On 6/19/2025 at 9:25 AM, throttleplate said:

thanks, we brought 25 blue gills home that day. Wife batters them and fries them, for me she filets them, she also puts some outside in the sun to make dried fish as she is a philipina.

Is sun drying to preserve the meat or is it to create a desired texture for consumption?

6 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Is sun drying to preserve the meat or is it to create a desired texture for consumption?

Preservation - it's been done that way for thousands of years....the Inuit still do it as well.

13 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Is sun drying to preserve the meat or is it to create a desired texture for consumption?

 

It is kinda like smoked fish and beef jerky.

Drying fish is a method of preserving it by removing moisture, which prevents the growth of bacteria and other microorganisms. This can be done through techniques like air drying, sun drying, or using smoke, and it has been practiced for centuries to extend the shelf life of fish.

I know we are talking about bait and bluegills but my favorite way to fish for gills is with a fly rod and small poppers. If you want to have some fun try it if you never have. 

2 minutes ago, Dogface said:

I know we are talking about bait and bluegills but my favorite way to fish for gills is with a fly rod and small poppers. If you want to have some fun try it if you never have. 

Could never get the knack with a fly rod. Instead, I'll, on occasion, use some Bett's bugs with a float and spinning gear. Will catch Bluegills and Bass.

Good Fishing

16 minutes ago, GreenTrout said:

Could never get the knack with a fly rod. Instead, I'll, on occasion, use some Bett's bugs with a float and spinning gear. Will catch Bluegills and Bass.

Good Fishing

 

There is a "knack" but with a little practice it is not hard and it is a lot of fun. 

19 hours ago, Dogface said:

 

There is a "knack" but with a little practice it is not hard and it is a lot of fun. 

To Each His Own ...

Good Fishing

19 hours ago, Dogface said:

There is a "knack" but with a little practice it is not hard and it is a lot of fun.

I'm so far away from my fly whipping days that it'd take more time that I got left to get back into it....but yes, it was a lot of fun...

went out on tuesday for gills using the cooked shrimp again and just smoked them, the bite intensified at 9 pm.