Locating Fall Bluegills

[gijimbo]

I am in Indiana and the water temps have been around 44-45F. Would I look for bluegills in the winter locations such as 20-30 ft deep or near pre-spawn areas 5-8 ft deep, or somewhere in between? I have never targeted bluegills in the fall so I am at a loss on this one. I am not asking for names of lakes just depths you would start at. What would you look for on the locator to make your decision?

[feeshrman]

Years ago,before i started crappie fishing, i caught a lot of bluegills during the winter months. I would basicly start fishing main lake points and work my way up and down them until i located fish. If they were not on the points, i would go to the flats and try there. Sometimes 'gills move around a lot and you have to hunt for them, their is no specific depth that you can say to try. I fished with 3-4 ultra-lites and a light egg sinker rigged so the line fed freely thru the sinker, i usually used a small light wire hook or a tiny jig head baited with red wigglers or crickets, meal worms are another alternative. Besides 'gills i also caught lots of shellcrackers using this method.

["G"]

feesh thats the way I do it also and I use a bobber stop under my egg sinker to keep it from sliding on down to the hook or jig.......that way a fish can pull the line through the egg sinker without feeling it. Really a good way to catch those big winter bluegills and red ears.

[chaunc]

Up north, i'd say to check for brush in 6 to 10 ft of water. Hair jig tipped with maggots or waxworms will be all you'll need to load up the boat. 4 to 7ft deep under a small bobber.

[tnpondmanager]

This time of year they will be deep. If you know of spots in the twenty-foot and deeper range where you've caught them before, that would be the first place I would look. Points could be good, as could drop-offs.

[gijimbo]

Thank-you all for the info. I have never fished for bluegills at the 20ft + mark before so this ought to be exciting.

[feeshrman]

Good idea about the bobber stop G, i always used a very small swivel with a bead above it, glad you mentioned it because i left that part out. BTW, I bet you fish Trace Lake a lot!

feesh thats the way I do it also and I use a bobber stop under my egg sinker to keep it from sliding on down to the hook or jig.......that way a fish can pull the line through the egg sinker without feeling it. Really a good way to catch those big winter bluegills and red ears.

["G"]

feesh

my house is 4 miles from the ramp at Trace lake....Lake Lamar Bruce was my favorite lake for red ears but they drained it and are re-building the dam.

Good idea about the bobber stop G, i always used a very small swivel with a bead above it, glad you mentioned it because i left that part out. BTW, I bet you fish Trace Lake a lot!

[feeshrman]

i used to go to Lamar Bruce all the time, was a super nice ranger there that lived at the lake (probably 15 years ago or more) I made the trip to Trace a couple of times also. If you were not careful you would get your rod snatched out of the boat by one of them big red ears. I may have to go try this style fishing again sometime, Kemper Lake is not far from me and i know it has some excellent bream in it, with it's clear deep water it would be perfect for that style of fishing.

[Cricketcage]

This time of year I usually head for secondary coves on the main lake where water drops off to at least 15 ft. Here in MS I usually will find big ones 8 - 12 ft. deep from this time through Christmas. Probably quite a bit deeper up north I imagine. I like to fish 1/32 oz. beetles (white, black, or yellow) or 1" curly tails on 2 lb. test line just off the bottom. Also like waxworms near the bottom. Never tried it, but will try dropshotting next time I get a chance. Seems like it should be a perfect presentation for this time of year.