Thread: THX for the tip / drop shot deep gills

So do bream stage up in deep water in all lakes? Like Greers ferry? I go there often with the family, and didnt wanna bypass any potential opportunities.

LowPro the only reason I was able to get onto these fish was from the tips and help the guys here gave me. I'm sure someone here will chime in or post your Q as a new one and see what good info they can give you. Can't say enough about the guys here on C.C

After they went off bed I could never find the big ones but now know one of the locations they go to afterwords. Hear they also suspend in deeper water but not tried that yet due to how productive this has been.

Originally Posted by LowePro

So do bream stage up in deep water in all lakes? Like Greers ferry? I go there often with the family, and didnt wanna bypass any potential opportunities.

I know the lakes I fish this is generally true. Laurel Hill is a lake that is 320 acres. It is 56 feet deep with a featureless bottom. There are some years after the Gills come off bed they move into shallow water and stay in shallow water until fall. This is not one of those years so far. I found schools of Gills....see pic......suspended in 27 feet of water at a depth of 5 feet down to around 20 feet. They were hard to stay on in a kayak. I did catch quite a few before losing them. Another lake I fish is Center Hill Lake. It is 18,000 acres....190 feet deep.....and after the Gills bed they will hold on bluffs in around 30 feet of water. I know the shell cracker in Center Hill will hold in deep water on gravel and or muscle beds. I have not been able to find those areas yet but have not been but twice since they came off bed. Gills will also hold in deep water grass..weeds. What slabbacks did is what I think all Gill fisherman want to do...find them when they go deep. I will get up to Center Hill within next couple of weeks and will hopefully duplicate what he did. If I am successful will post report with pics.

Regards

Alphahawk when you find them schooled and suspending like the shot shows, how do you fish them? Could see where the 859 would come in handy in max mode but do find that they are moving around or stay in one location?

Originally Posted by slabbacks

Alphahawk when you find them schooled and suspending like the shot shows, how do you fish them? Could see where the 859 would come in handy in max mode but do find that they are moving around or stay in one location?

They were traveling that day. Sometimes they will only move 50 to 100 yards in a few hours...sometimes much more. I toss out a Lindy Marker Buoy and I vertical jig a Trout Magnet on a 3/32 ounce lead head with a #6 hook. It is just tougher staying on top of them in a kayak.....especially with a little wind. The 899 really helps you stay on them but when you are catching and they slowly move away it can be hard to relocate sometimes. When I finally find them like you did on the gravel I will anchor down. I need a break in the wind and am not going to get it this week so will try again next week.


Regards

Thx, Good luck then. Heading out in the morning to work some ledges and fall downs for a slab or two I hope.

I use/a dropshot for deep shellcrackers and nice bream. It is very effective.

I love "drop shotin" in any deep lake. Up here in PA the huge 'gills, crappie, and white perch move deep in summer.

I don't have a expensive fish finder like you guys have (I have a cheapo Humminbird 110 portable that I put on my float tube) but I still can see the fish hangin' in the deep water.

I like to use small Gulp baits with my drop shot. I also like a small piece of crawler?

I saw your post on drop shot bluegills, and I got all excited! Thanks!