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Guys, can you give me some tips on catching the bull bluegills? We have caught some nice table fare the last few trips, mostly in the seven inch range, and my old man caught one ten inch. I am ready to try to get the big boys, as I know they are there. Any tips or tricks to help me on my way?
Bigger gills tend to be in deeper water. So, I'd find the smaller ones first. Then, fish deeper water nearby.
Second, you might try scaling down your tackle, i.e. smaller hooks and lighter line. For a leader, I generally use 6X fly tippet which tests at around 3.5 lb but is much thinner than typical 4 lb line. For hooks, I don't think you ever need to go bigger than a #8, and a #10 or #12 would be better in most situations. For maggot fishing, I use a #14 or #16.
Dave Whitlock wrote years ago that big bluegills were the most challenging fish in freshwater. They're wary, so do all you can to get an edge.
Like db4d said scale it down and quiet it way down.The big boys usually slip away right as you pull into an area.Try fishing from farther away if possible.Come into a cove quietly with your trolling motor only and cast to a likely spot from as far away as possible.The little foam rubber spiders on a leader with a weighted bobber about 5 foot from the bug for casting distance.When it is about to hit the water stop the line with your finger and the bug will slingshot past the bobber and lay out flat on the surface then sink slowly.The bulls cant resist this.Got me ready for summer already and spring aint over yet....:)