Have you ever made it to a frozen lake and forgot the bait? -OR- Run out of bait due to little bluegills cleaning your hook off? -OR- How ’bout those live bait prices? Live bait is a great way to catch bluegills, and it’s not the only way. The following lures are effective to catch bluegills during the chill of winter.

Next time you enter a bait shop you’re sure to sure to find finesse plastics for ice fishing. Soft Body Lures, Berkley Gulp, and Finesse Plastics name a few for you to try.

Finesse plastics are a popular and effective way to fish for ‘gills through the ice. Live bait certainly works, but knowing about lures will help you answer to stubborn fish. The benefits of using lures mean you don’t need to rebait as often and lures can enhance live bait presentations. If you have a preference between live bait and plastics please share. Here are a few ice fishing lures from my tackle box:

Pictured here is a variation of plastics for ice fishing called a Wedgee commonly fished with a jig head.

Vertical jigs as this work great for deep water, getting down fast due to their heavy weight and design.

Spoons work great for jigging and can be tipped with live bait or plastics

Lures prove to be a great way to enhance live bait presentations and are a great alternative to live bait. Tie on one and enjoy the bite! (Stay tuned for a similar post on summer lures for bluegills.)

Pre Cold Weather Sight :: Photo Thanks http://blogs.targetx.com/hbu/DawgTracks/fall-leaves.jpg

October is near. Now is the time bluegills, (and all fish species), will be eating for the winter months. So, feel free to tie on a hook and throw on leaf worms/night crawlers for some late season action. 

Speaking of winter months, hows your cold weather wardrobe? Check Bass Pro Shop for reasonably priced hiking boots and outdoor socks. These outdoor socks are made of lambs wool and boast warmth and durability. The slogan points out they will be the last pair of socks you’ll buy… if you did, how are they holding up?

 If your feet sweat alot consider wearing rubber boots over your hiking boots. Hiking boots offer little insulation, while rubber boots prevent wet feet. Because hiking boots offer thin insulation your feet will not become too warm — preventing sweating.

Ice fishing for bluegills is about being comfortable. Knowing your body is a big part to brave the elements.

Hope your fishing lines have been tight since the last post. Should’ve posted ‘gone fishing’ since that’s what I’ve been doing. I was out on the lake deciding what you want to read about bluegills when I began drifting. That’s it!

Drifting happens to be a successful fishing technique you can use to catch bluegills. Drifting means fishing without anchors. Drifting relies on the wind and not on a trolling motor. Be aware of the wind, it will commonly switch direction during your drift. Start with just letting your bait drift, if no response, add a jig and rest technique. Let the fish tell you what they want.

Since the wind is pushing you, your bait is moving, bluegills like moving bait. This allows bluegills to chase your bait. When you run into a school of bluegills, you’ll be aware. Bluegills strike hard when you drift. This must create competition in the school of bluegills of who will catch the bait, sparking an aggressive nature.

Photo Thanks: http://bit.ly/9awAV8

While drifting you may pick up a bass, northern, walleye, perch, or other fish perhaps you didn’t know existed in the lake. Because drifting is a great way to cover a lot of water, drifting is a great way to learn a lake. You will find out the lake structure of the lake you’re fishing on. As you drift you can find the weed line, learn where the deep and shallow depths are, and where your hot spots are.

Try drifting on a variety of lakes and throughout spring, summer, and fall. You’ll learn the patterns of bluegill, (and other fish), this way throughout the year such as when bluegills bite better and when. It’s important to note that a bluegill pattern may vary from lake to lake.

Drifting, it’s an essential tactic year-round to get a homemade fish fry going. You can even say you’re using alternative energy!

To all kids:

Looking to start out fishing, or just to get out on the lake? Bluegills are a great way to get introduced to the sport of fishing. Even if you’ve been at fishing for a while, you know the hard-fighting bluegills provide. The basics of how to set up a bluegill rig allow you to alter for walleye and other panfish.

The bait you use for bluegill fishing allows you to catch other fish by surprise. A half night crawler will also mean you have a chance to catch largemouth bass, crappie, perch, walleye, and even northern pike.  Learning how to set your bobber depth is a skill kids can use as they grow into fishing.

Summer fishing for bluegills is a great time to try new hobbies out. Bluegills provide you fun and excitement as they are easily caught. Bluegills are often a kid’s first catch. Using a bobber for bluegills brings out the thrill of fishing for bluegills. A bobber will detect light bites from bluegills and allow an appropriate time to set the hook.

And how convenient bluegills bite great in the summer when you’re are on summer break/vacation! Fishing in general allows you to relax and enjoy an easy going sport, during a great time of year. Remember you won’t catch fish by powning your friend on the latest video game! Besides, a bad day of fishing is better than a good day at work.

Bring the kid out in you by bluegill fishing and feel the suspense as your bobber goes under.

When did you first start fishing?

Successfull Bluegill Adventure Photo Thanks: www.thewatersnake.com

After catching a mess of bluegills you have a few ways to clean them.

• Filleting 
• Scaling and gutting.

Scaling And Gutting 

1. Scale
2. Cut off head
3. Clean out guts
4. Rinse under running water
5. Place in a bowl of water until dinner. Freeze by putting water in freezer safe bags if not preparing immediatly.

If you scale and gut, you’ll have more meat than fillets.

Filleting

Filleting takes practice and more skill than scaling. Take your filet knife and keep close to the bone. Keep steady pressure to make sure you feel the spine and follow the spine. Plenty of videos to watch how to fillet. A benefit to filleting is the no hassle of picking out bones while eating your catch.

Fish Fry Time!

There are a variety of ways to prepare bluegills.

• Deep fry
• Broil
• Pan fry
• Grill

You can deep fry, broil, pan fry, and grill either the whole bluegill or bluegill fillets.

A Grilling Recipe

1. Lay the cleaned bluegill on tin foil, and season with lemon pepper, butter, green peppers, onion
2. Place prepeared bluegill on on grill 
3. When the flesh is flakey and white, remove and enjoy your catch!
4. While your at it, cook the tail until crispy. It’ll taste like bacon!

Grilling's not just for burgers, brats and steak. Photo Thanks: www.centerpigeonfire.org

From Water To Oil

* Can use store bought batter, Shore Lunch,  -OR- Make Your Own Batter

1. Get batter ready.
2. Crack and beat some eggs in a bowl - estimate how many eggs by how many fish you caught -OR- Use milk instead of eggs
3. Dip prepared bluegill in egg then in batter
4. Cover fish with batter
5. Place in deep fryer, wait until golden brown…Enjoy Homeade Fish Fry!

Corn on the cob, wild rice, and bread are a great compliment to your fish fry. Let’s hear ways you prepare your catch in the comments section…

How do bluegills differ from panfish? Bluegills belong to the panfish family. Panfish are known for their taste. From Panfish to a pan fry, it’s a good correlation. Panfish include perch, crappie, sunfish and bluegills. Panfish are popular year round.
Bluegills

A popular summer time catch for the kids. Photo Thanks: dnr.wi.gov

Pumpkinseeds often caught with bluegills. Popular summer time catch. Photo Thanks: dnr.wi.gov

Perch usually enjoy deeper water than bluegills. Can be caught while bluegill fishing. PhotoThanks:dnr.wi.gov

Crappie carry the nick name Papermouths. Photo Thanks: dnr.wi.gov

When Riggin’ Up

When rigging up your bobber, check the depth of the water. If you’re not sure estimate and experiment. How deep you are will tell how to set your bobber. The farther away from the hook you set your bobber the deeper you are, and the closer to your hook you set your bobber the shallower you are.

You may have to fish at different depths before you find any bluegills. Fishing is about experimentation with baits, depths, and lures. Bluegill fishing’s the same. Try different baits and depths. Sinkers may be helpful if it is windy so your bait does not stay near the surface.

A bobber, hook, and sinker rig ready for bluegill action! Photo Credit: Josh Schwartz

 Nice Cast!

After casting your line out remember, patience. When you do get a bite, wait until the bobber is submerged, then set the hook.

Remember to reel in the slack up until the bobber, then set the hook. Setting the hook without reeling in the slack could mean you lose the fish, because you won’t be directly in contact with your bobber. After casting, reel in the slack until you move your bobber. Now you’re ready for a sure hook set.   

Check In

If your bobber isn’t getting any action feel free to move around. Little bluegills are known to steal bait off your hook. Sometimes you may not even see your bobber move when they do. So check to see if your bait is stolen or if your hook is showing.

Remember, your bait should always cover the hook tip. An exposed hook spooks bluegills away from your bait presentation.

Reel your line in slow because you may lure a bluegill to strike. Also,  try a reel and stop rhythm to trigger a strike.

So you’ve got your bait. Worms are a popular way to fish for bluegills. Besides night crawlers, other types of live bait options are:

• Red Worms (I’ve had much luck with red worms in late summer)
• Trout Worms
• Leaf Worms
• Wax worms (this popular ice fishing bait can be used in the summer months, popular for spring bluegills)

Tackle Bluegills
Tackle for bluegill fishing is light. Hooks, bobbers, sinkers, a fishing pole and you’re set. 
Bobbers allow the bait to be suspended off the bottom, and tell when you’ve got a bite.
There are a variety of bobbers available to you. 

The two that work best for bluegill fishing in the spring, summer, and fall are round and spring bobbers. Round bobbers are work great for kids just beginning to fish.

Over time you may find a bobber you prefer over other styles. How far out you’re casting may determine the bobber style you use. Stick bobbers have an orange tip which may help you notice it further away from the boat or shore.

Add a few different sizes to your tackle box. Photo Thanks: www.cabelas.com

The standard red and white bobber. Photo Thanks: bayou-bound.blogspot.com

Line up!

4 lb test monofilament line is all you need. Bluegills are finicky so it’s best to use line lighter than 10lb test. The higher lb test the stronger and heavier the line. Because 4lb test monofilament is a light line, it’s harder to see in the water.

An ultra light perspective

Fishing pole types:

• UL – Ultra-Light
• L – Light
• ML – Med/Light
• M – Medium
• MH – Medium Heavy
• H – Heavy
• XH – Extra Heavy
• UH – Ultra Heavy

An ultra light fishing rod provides the ultimate bluegill fight. If you use any action above medium heavy, you won’t be experiencing the pure muscle bluegills offer. Although small, pound for pound bluegills are known as the strongest fighting fish.

Worm Pickin' Photo Thanks:http://www.justjenndesigns.com/crafts/food/dirtcakebig.jpg

Discover Your Worm Farm

After a rainstorm check your back yard for nightcrawlers. Nightcrawlers will be rained out of their homes. You have to be quick, and pinch them near the hole so you don’t split them in half. Gently pull them out of their hole. Damp newspaper and place in a pail. The worms will feed off the newspaper and will be lively the next time you go out. Keep in a damp place such as your basement. A summer night also provides plenty of night crawlers.

Bait Hookin’…

For spawning season, half pieces of nightcrawler and wax worms work best. I like to use for are wax worms for early spring, because I feel bluegills are more finicky in the spring time.

Off The Hook

I use smaller hooks in the spring, because my bait is smaller and bluegills may be finicky. Watch out though, smaller hooks make it easy for bluegill to swallow the hook. If your catch does swallow the hook it’s best to cut the line off as close to the hook as possible and release the fish. According to the DNR, the stomach acids of the fish will dissolve the hook. What do you think? Is the DNR right? Is it healthier to cut the line, or remove the swallowed hook?

Buy A License

Purchase your fishing license. Fishing license’s expire March 31st. April 1st is the start of the 2010 fishing season.

Not only for the ice…

Don’t put away your ice fishing gear just yet. Ice fishing jigs prove effective in the spring and summer for bluegill. Tie on an ice fishing jig in the spring because bluegills may want a smaller presentation. If you have no ice fishing jigs, size 8 hooks work well. Have pliers in case the bluegill swallow your hook or jig.

Tip your ice-fishing jig with a piece of night crawler, red worm, or wax worms. In the spring, bluegills will be finicky and may not go for a whole night crawler, and prefer something smaller than a night crawler.

Bluegills from Shore

Shore fishing or boat fishing can be effective in the spring. Because bluegills spawn close to shore walk with caution as the fish will spook easier. Bluegills don’t spook easily, but once spooked, the fish will be weary of striking your bait.

Same rule applies if you’re fishing in a boat. When approaching the shore, kill the engine and use your tolling motor, or paddle your way into the desired fishing spot.

Mark down May!

March and April are not the best months to fish for bluegills. It’s possible you may catch bluegills in March and April. But, the middle of May, or whenever the weather starts to warm up, offers better bluegill fishing.

It’s at this time that bluegills will be spawning and stick close to the shoreline. Bluegills can be spotted close to shore in 3-5 feet of water. Live bait works best, and a half a night crawler on a hook with a bobber is usually the best way to catch spawning bluegills.

Spawning Seasons Differ

Because the weather patterns differ from year to year, so does the actual time bluegills will spawn. The middle of May is usually a good estimate. If spring is unseasonably warm, bluegills may spawn in early May. If spring is unseasonably cool, bluegills may begin spawning in late May, early June.

A lot of fishing is experimentation and being in the right place and the right time. Keeping your ears open to fishing reports and asking how fishing is at certain lakes provides you with clues and tips on when to go and what to use.

Next post we’ll discuss how to save money on bait.