Don't know about gills, except for GrassHoppers & crickets--but can tell you some of the best bait I and the grand kids have found for largemouth bass is hot dogs, on way to fish would stop @ a local gas station & buy a few of those nasty gas station hot dogs( the ones been warmed all day, greasy & slimy), Wow the bass sure do love them things, the greaser the better.