Got a question about cutbait....

When using bluegill for cutbait, do you use the heads as bait? What about the tail piece? I'm sure the middle piece is best with the blood and guts in it, but what about the other parts? Are they good bait too?
Also, is fresh best or will frozen pieces work well after they are thawed out?
Thanks

I do mine several different ways, If It's big bluegill, I scale the fish leaving skin on, then cut off filllets, and I use the head also. On smaller bluegill, I cut the dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins and tail off with scissors. Then I cut the remainder in two pieces. For larger bluegill you don;t want to fillet you can get 3 baits. Some say they have their best luck with the heads, others the rear and midsections, it varies. But I like a fluttering fillet in current.

Of course you can catch catfish on frozen bream, too, Sometimes I buy frozen rainbow trout at a bait shop, they're usually 8 inch or 9 inch fish--a buck a piece. They;re an oily fish of coursw and are great blu and channel bait.

Anyway you want. Live, dead whole with slits in the side, head only, cut in half, chunked usually not using the tail, fillets, ect. Try all you can til you catch a couple of fish.

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Originally Posted by Festus_Haggen

I do mine several different ways, If It's big bluegill, I scale the fish leaving skin on, then cut off filllets, and I use the head also. On smaller bluegill, I cut the dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins and tail off with scissors. Then I cut the remainder in two pieces. For larger bluegill you don;t want to fillet you can get 3 baits. Some say they have their best luck with the heads, others the rear and midsections, it varies. But I like a fluttering fillet in current.

Of course you can catch catfish on frozen bream, too, Sometimes I buy frozen rainbow trout at a bait shop, they're usually 8 inch or 9 inch fish--a buck a piece. They;re an oily fish of coursw and are great blu and channel bait.

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I agree with Festus on this. I have caught some very nice cats on the heads. Fresh bait is best but frozen bait will work. Throw the tails away.

From my days of catfishing, heads will work, and usually will bring in a little better fish. Whole baitfish will work for the bigger fish. Fillet with skin on has been the best for me over the years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Festus_Haggen

I do mine several different ways, If It's big bluegill, I scale the fish leaving skin on, then cut off filllets, and I use the head also. On smaller bluegill, I cut the dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins and tail off with scissors. Then I cut the remainder in two pieces. For larger bluegill you don;t want to fillet you can get 3 baits. Some say they have their best luck with the heads, others the rear and midsections, it varies. But I like a fluttering fillet in current.

Of course you can catch catfish on frozen bream, too, Sometimes I buy frozen rainbow trout at a bait shop, they're usually 8 inch or 9 inch fish--a buck a piece. They;re an oily fish of coursw and are great blu and channel bait.

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Perfectly said!

These guys are giving you some good info. I'll add my 2 cents.....Frozen bait is good bait (not as good as fresh) but I try not to use any that has been frozen for over 2 months. I throw the tails away too. You should probly get 3 chunks out of a bluegill counting the head.