reelfoot bluegill

[martin28v]

I'm going to the foot at the end of March for crappie but was wondering if you can catch those big bluegills then?? If you think so, where? Thanks

[popeyemaker]

Yes you can catch bluegills at Reelfoot in March. I fish out from weedlines in the lower blue basin. Try grooms pocket, out from the duck jump at the western end of the pocket. Fish a black/blue spittin image popeye tipped with a wax worm about 2-4 feet deep. The fish can be anywhere from 1-100 feet from the weedline. Bring a big fish cooler with you. If you don't believe me ask Billy Blakely at Blue Bank resort.

[martin28v]

Thanks for the DETAILED info. I will surely try to find them this year. Last year we chased the crappies the whole time because I thought(there lies the problem) it was too early for the bluegills. Thanks again..

[jhaskell]

We are headed down 3/13, I have not been down for a few years and was only there the one time. We finally found the airpark, I believe it was called. I recall not very deep overall before the droughts, is it still a good spot to fish for crappie? Also, where can I find the spittin image popeye and does anyone have any tips for smallies? Live in IL and never had the opportunity to go after them before. thanks.

[barrelslime]

the best tip I can give you for smallies is they taste GOOOOD!!!

[Wooly]

OK, I'm a newbie. What is a " spittin image popeye" ?

Wooly

[jhaskell]

Wooly, we will let an expert answer that one, I just heard of it yesterday myself googling crappie in reelfoot.

Barrelslime, you in the Edwardsville area? where are you seeing smallies? cranks? spinners? do they generally go after same as large mouth?

[jhaskell]

In my earlier post when I was asking about the water level at "airpark", I meant upper blue basin. Not sure where I got air park. Anyone know what the water level looks like there?

[popeyemaker]

The bluegills at reelfoot bite all year but nobody fishes for them much unless they are spawning. The upper 2 lakes are shallower so they warm up faster but the lower blue basin has the deep water they like when it's cold. Along with grooms pocket I also like the grassline and nearby flats in swan basin and around green island, all in the lower blue. In the middle lake the whole left[west] grassline is good or you can cut across to tri-bar on the east side. Four of us caught over 500 bluegills one day in that area. The upper blue is kind of a mystery to me and most non-locals. It is very very tricky to get to from the lower lakes by water. You will hear that it's not too hard to find your way. I spent a whole day and 6 gallons of gas finding out that ain't exactly accurate. I've been to reelfoot 35 or 40 times since the 70's. I aint guessing. For more info. on spittin image popeyes go to the Mar. 23 2007 fishin report @ Reelfoot.com P.S. I have never had a snake fall in my boat.

[ejones1961]

OK, I'm a newbie. What is a " spittin image popeye" ?

Wooly

Look here

http://www.spittinimagecompany.com/