I ask not so I can use live bluegills, but most effectively use the myriad of bluegill swimbaits out there to increase my catch size.

I've done pretty well with bluegill sbs in the past but I am having trouble getting out of the 3-5lb class fish most of the time. I do understand this is as much a function of where I am fishing these vs what.

So for those of you who use live bluegill as bait, what is your "preferred" size for targeting big bass? I have read several accounts of bass neglecting bluegills once they surpass a certain size due to the possibility of choking. There are baits on the market from 3~7" and I know they all get bit too, but there must be a "sweet spot".

The spawn tactic is an obvious one (but not a favorite of mine), but care to share on any other bluegill behaviors/subtle nuances of their movement, habitat, disposition, etc that would also be relevant?

thx in advance - i know there are a lot of good bluegill-savvy sticks around here!

For bass 6lbs-16lbs the Mattlures baits are the perfect size. The baits larger than those will sometimes get bit but way less often even from big fish. I shortened the tail on my Tru-Tungsten Bluegill and caught way more big fish once I took about an inch off the tail.

This might not happen at every body of water, but it does at one in particular I fish at. All of the decent and larger bass in there (4+lbs.) all feed on slab bluegill exclusively as far as I know. They often steal the biggest bluegill we catch right off our UL rigs, or right after we release them. They only seem to go after the biggest ones. It's pretty awesome when you see them go after one.

Mattlures do look great for the Bluegill swimbaits

For bass 6lbs-16lbs the Mattlures baits are the perfect size.  

What about the 17 pounders? haha

For bass 6lbs-16lbs the Mattlures baits are the perfect size.

What about the 17 pounders? haha

Hahaha

i would ask that too cept we dont got any of those here - if I get a DD ill be happier than a pig in **** in WA.

For me, good size of bluegill for bass would be between 3 to 4". How I know this, my buddy and I have done some night fishing for cats with live gills and landed a couple of good size bass with em.

For bass 6lbs-16lbs the Mattlures baits are the perfect size.

What about the 17 pounders? haha

When I catch one I will let you know. Right now I can only tell you what the fish up to 16lbs prefered. But, I am really wanting to skip over all those teen fish and just go straight to 23 lbs.

2.9lbers don't seem to mind much either  

 

17 lbers love 5in gills. I dont know about 18lbers though ;D

lol!

Jesus Matt! That girl looks like she could swallow your head!  ;D

Now that's a fish.  Wow Matt!

:o :o :o :o

WHOA!

  WOW Matt that is awesome, truly one beautiful fish and could swallow mine. ;D

    A Lot of northern folks think that bait is to big to throw up here.Just wanted to show that your 5in gills are so realistic that bass of all sizes love them.

  Again, great bait thanks for making them.

Congrats Matt.

Mattlures is the way to go.

So general consensus seems to be to stay away from those larger BG baits then.

Any specific techniques with them anyone wants to share?

Matt that fish is ridiculous man! I need one of those in March (back back to cali woo)

EDIT: also - is there a reason to pick a male or female BG pattern over the other?  I am having trouble deciding which of matts new hardbaits to add to the arsenal, and no, I dont have the $ to buy them all  

Dude, Awesome Bass!!! and those baits are incredibly realistic.

omg i never knew a bass got that big....i bet it was hard to land ..good fish you the man.....

LOL

d**n Matt, you lucky son of a gun... You don't know how much I wish we had bass like that in Jersey.. The only shot I have at a fish like that is plugging the beaches, that'll do though  .

I guess that is proof to give them babies a try