Help me understand.....

[mistertwister]

Hello,
I spend most of my time tuned into the crappie side of this board but i have just recently begun to target bluegull and redear on a local lake. I have fished this lake for 30 years (i am only 36) but mostly for bass. My brother and i have had a ball catching some nice bluegill and redear recently and i want to pick you all for a little help.

This lake is a small, state owned lake and for the most part is very clear. Right now due to our drought like conditions here in KY, it is a little more cloudy than usual. It has vegetation on almost every foot of its 100 acre shore, which is what keeps it pretty clear. It does have a good population of all game fish and it isnt unusual to go out and catch a 10 inch bluegill, 10 inch redear, 10 inch crappie, and all of the 12-18 inch bass that you can put in the boat.

My question is this. Recently it seems that we are catching all of the nice bluegill in pockets, surrounded by vegetation. Backs of coves, or right on the shoreline. We have found beds in these areas, thus the fish. I have read on here, and elsewhere, where the big bluegill and redear are in deeper water. RIght now we are catching them on the following bait. Jig's under a slip float, tipped with a crappie nibble. I primarily use Grizzly jigs, but popeye or any similar will produce.

What i would like from you all is some suggestions on how to improve from this method. I feel like we are only catching a small portion of the fish, because we are limiting ourselves. For instance, should we deepen up, and fish out from the shorline vegetation? if so, how much? Right on the outside of the vegetation it is about 3-5 ft deep. Should we try to get in the 7-8 foot range? Will bluegill and redear stay on the bottom out from the vegetation or do they get right up in it? If you need more info about the lake, let me know, or if you have a question about something that i havent covered, please ask.

Thanks for your suggestions

Chris

[deathb4disco]

should we deepen up, and fish out from the shorline vegetation?

Yes. I rarely fish shallow for gills. Deep water is relative, but I look for good bottom structure in 6-12 FOW. The lake you're fishing sounds a lot like many of the ones I fish. The next time I'm in Kentucky, I'll have to check it out.

As for tactics, I'm very predictable: maggots under a float. I use light line (5X fly tippet if the water has some color, 6X or 7X if it's clearer) and generally fish 6" to a foot off bottom.

[shipahoy41]

Find the vegetation. Fish a wax worm on a #8 hook or on a #8 Bob Clouser fly under a float and you're in business. Normally I'll fish 4 feet deep. Fish will rise to take a bait faster than they will chase one down.

old ship