Sunfish seem to be the main food source in my lake. What is the best rig/lure to imitate bluegill when summer hits and the bass go deep?

Mattlures Ultimate Bluegill hands down.  I just got one and it's scary how real it looks.  I'm not allowed to post links because of my lack of posts but Mattlures . com minus the spaces should get you there!

Mattlures is also a member of BR and I'm sure he will answer any questions.

Jeremy

Not to take anything away from Matt's lures, they"re great I'm sure and I plan to own one of the beauties soon myself, but I just ordered a couple of the Bagley's small fry bream. Do a google and give 'em a look-see. Nice paint jobs and they are a thinner and tighter wobbling bait than most of the gill imitating cranks out there.

The Norman Fat Boys have produced for me already in shallower water and they look pretty good too.

For deeper water i switch from swimbaits to crankbaits,  there is less sunlight in deeper water so bass cannot see as well. i like DT22 Rapala in bluegill color for deep water    also with less visiblity in deep water   a crankbait puts out more  vibration than a swimbait so a bass can get in easier

Ill second that matt lures. I was checking them out last night. Only thing that hurts me is the price. Im sure they are a lot of work! I made the comment to my fiance that if I hung one of those up, id be going for a swim.

I'm thinking any deep diving crankbait with a bluegill color imitation should suffice.

All of these lures would be great imitations but this is were nralover needs to define "deep".  

The Bagley small fry bream at best dives to 7 feet, Mattlures bluegill sinks but needs some good sized equipment to fish it well. DT22  is a great lure and will get bit.

Good luck to you nralover!

Jeremy

Luhr Jensen HotLips Express 3/4 oz. or Norman DD22 deep diving cranks and not as hard on the pocket book for deep fishing the extra noise and vibration is better suited than a swimbait.

Karu Lures extreme bluegill swim jig

I use the Rapala DTs for all my Bluegill imitations shallow or deep.