Getting through the schoolies to find bigger fish?

I have been enjoying some short trips in the local rivers and always catch fish, but they always seem to be the little guys. I'm typically using just live worms on a #10 under a slip float because that's how I have my 5 year old sons set up. I can't really go to anything different because he would want to use the same thing, so to avoid the constant fuss of getting his gear out of trees/weeds/rock I stick to simple rigs.

I've tried deeper, more structure, and different spots, but I am usually stuck with either threadfins or schoolies taking the bait. Anyone have any tips for simple rigs that can be bank fished to better find the bigger fish?

Maybe moon phase or certain tides? Everywhere I fish locally is tidal, unless I go up to the hills and fish a lake, which is rare.


-Alexander

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Originally Posted by fast14riot

Anyone have any tips for simple rigs that can be bank fished to better find the bigger fish?

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A couple of thoughts:

1) Are you sure that there are bigger fish around? Not every body of water is loaded with 12-inchers.

2) Even if there are bigger fish around, it doesn't sound like there's a lot of them. So, fishing for them specifically would probably mean a lot less action. If you're fishing with a five-year old, action is important. They usually don't have the patience to wait it out for a big fish.

Sounds like you are in the Bay area. I would check out the bait shops and fishing reports for panfish information. Maybe try crickets & jigs. Weeds are taking off now so shore fishing gets a little tough. Watch people fishing for Bass - after they move try the spot for panfish.....
If you guys make it down here you can try Lake Perris - can show you some techniques.

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Originally Posted by LedHed

Sounds like you are in the Bay area. I would check out the bait shops and fishing reports for panfish information. Maybe try crickets & jigs. Weeds are taking off now so shore fishing gets a little tough. Watch people fishing for Bass - after they move try the spot for panfish.....
If you guys make it down here you can try Lake Perris - can show you some techniques.

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I'm in the San Joaquin Valley, in Stockton. I've seen bigger fish come out of these bodies of water, I just need to locate them and try to catch them. Unfortunately here bluegill are mostly considered bait and fishing for them isn't very popular. Where exactly is Lake Perris?

@db4disco: I completely agree that have action is more important when fishing with my boy, but I still manage to get out for a few hours by myself and don't mind waiting for the bigger fish by myself. I'd love to catch 12 inch slabs but I doubt there is many in that size where I'm fishing, but even just some 8-9-10 inch fish would be fine. These little 6-7 inch schoolies are abundant though. Weed cover is an issue here year round and of course the big issue is the hyacinth, which makes fishing difficult at best!

Will try some different rigs next chance I get.


-Alexander

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fast14riot

I'm in the San Joaquin Valley, in Stockton. I've seen bigger fish come out of these bodies of water, I just need to locate them and try to catch them. Unfortunately here bluegill are mostly considered bait and fishing for them isn't very popular. Where exactly is Lake Perris?

@db4disco: I completely agree that have action is more important when fishing with my boy, but I still manage to get out for a few hours by myself and don't mind waiting for the bigger fish by myself. I'd love to catch 12 inch slabs but I doubt there is many in that size where I'm fishing, but even just some 8-9-10 inch fish would be fine. These little 6-7 inch schoolies are abundant though. Weed cover is an issue here year round and of course the big issue is the hyacinth, which makes fishing difficult at best!

Will try some different rigs next chance I get.


-Alexander

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As has been said...you have to be where big Gills are at. You may not be aware but a 10 inch bluegill....not a shell cracker.....is a true trophy and are hard to come by no matter where you fish. A 12 inch Gill would be very rare. I catch a lot of 8-9 inch Gills.....and on occasion a 10 inch fish. But there are several lakes I fish where the Gills may only be 6-7 inches but have very broad shoulders....I am just as happy catching those little "Chunks" as I call them. Lake Perris is one of a very few public lakes in the country that produce those size Gills.

Regards

I know they're here. I just have to find them. I need to get my float tube going, but in a river it can be tough to hold position or to walk back a couple miles to where I put in at. The rivers here produce some big fish, just looking to get through these guys...

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2....jpeg~original

I may switch over to fishing wet flies to try and coax out some more weary fish. But, I'm still just getting back into fishing for panfish seriously after many years off.

I do appreciate the tips!

-Alexander

Found a few bigger fish today finally! Started fishing at low and fished the incoming tide for a few hours. Found the typical schoolies biting quick and strong while the surface temp was still cool. Had fun with those guys for a while then the bite nearly turned off. Moved a couple hundred yards to a shady spot and found some fish right at the bank holding really tight to structure. Hooked lots of 4" striped bass and even some large mouth the same size, lol!

Then landed a few bigger ones from some heavy cover including this nice one coming close to 9"!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f2...pszh6fujbd.jpg


-Alexander

Congrats on your catches.


Regards

Lake Perris is outside of Riverside on the way to Palm Springs.

Might try float tubing..

^^ Thanks. That's a bit far for me just for a fishing trip. About 8-10 hours drive.

I've started getting into some bigger fish lately, I think figuring out the tides and water temps has helped a bunch.


-Alexander