I am guilty of only targeting bluegill when they are in pre-spawn and spawning mode. It is not that I do not like to fish for them year round, it is the fact of fishing for other species in my limited time on the water. Crappie are right where I like them in June July and August, deep! Bluegill are deep too i am sure of that, and the lakes I fish are close by (3 miles and 12 miles) and do have a good size and number populations, I just do not take the time to find them and actively pursue them when I KNOW for a fact where other species are located. Several years ago i ventured out in October with a tube of crickets and found some great gill action in about 15-20ft water in areas that were nearly adjacent or close by spring time bedding areas. Now our lakes fluctuate about 30-40ft so in October I can actually see the bedding areas on dry ground, 20ft up the bank. Catching the Fall gills was fun, I would let the cricket sink all the way to the bottom then reel up slowly and usually got a strike as the bait lifted from the bottom. Two things were evident, the males were not in their breeding plumage and there were mixed year classes in the schools of fish. I was not using the UL equipment I am today and have not fished for them since at that time of year. Add to that the visible brush remaining in the receeding cooler waters of the Fall had a few Crappie still lurking, Gills were just put on the back burner. In about 5 years i hope to retire and maybe get to fish for them more throughout the year. The UL bug has bit me, and bluegill are the perfect fish to enjoy that bite!