Anyone had some slow gill fishing this year?

I'd say, in NE, the bluegill fishing has been extremely slow. I like to catch some to eat occasionally, but most of the time I use them for cut bait for cats. The lakes that I usually catch bluegill at just haven't been hitting like they were last year. Anyone been having exceptional luck? I usually use worms at my go to bait for gills but I was able to catch them on small roadrunners, gulp jigging grubs, and other small gulp products. Hopefully it starts to pick up as the temps cool off a bit, water's been around 85-90 degrees here.

tore the gills up in June and July here in Arkansas before the water dried up too much to launch the boat

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There has been no let up in the action here in NW Illinois. To be honest I try to avoid the little bait fish but find one sometimes. This has been the best fishing year in memory. Attachment 136131

Dang looks like you guys have been hammering them! What's water temps where you guys are? There 85+ right now and most of our waters look like pea soup where I'm at. Hope it starts to pick up into fall!

We haven't been setting any records lately on catches but have been getting some decent ones.

Not sure what the top temp I seen on the float tube finder was but we are in an ongoing drought. All lakes low and hot. Just srtarted cool weather but still need rain bad. Last trip out the temp on a small deep lake was 79Attachment 136150

Lots of fish showing on that screen Mike

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Originally Posted by Illinoisgiller

Not sure what the top temp I seen on the float tube finder was but we are in an ongoing drought. All lakes low and hot. Just srtarted cool weather but still need rain bad. Last trip out the temp on a small deep lake was 79Attachment 136150

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And what's the strategy that you use to get down that far to the gills? Just split shot and worm? I never fish for gills in more than 8-10'

Been good here...just didn't get to go as much as I wanted........the lakes were on fire but I mostly fish the river banks.
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I have not fished much for gills this year. I'm looking forward to fall fishing, though.

And what's the strategy that you use to get down that far to the gills? Just split shot and worm? I never fish for gills in more than 8-10' I use small jigs tipped w/wax worms and shot up 2 to 4' from jig. I didn't get any fish from that bunch. Most but not all big gills I get deep are not showing on the finder.. They charge in from outside the cone.

Took the family in June and didn't get much. Went back to the same lake in July and fished for four hours with only a few and then found a pocket and caught 15 good ones in 20 minutes and went home. Took my boy out to a different lake in August and a similar story - had one keeper in five hours and then caught about 50 (35 keepers) from one spot in an hour. In both of the last two they were still biting good when we left . For whatever reason they seem to be more concentrated than normal.

Here in Finger Lakes New York, I have been fishing 10 -15 ft of water. I've had a lot of good luck fishing wax worms, and butter worms.
The set up is simple just a small hook, a split shot and a slip bobber. I set the bobber top stop at 6-8 ft, depending where the fish are.
Tried redworms a few times this year, but ended up with a bunch of dinks that way. The big gills just can't turn down a fat butter worm.

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What are you guys using for line when you use slip bobbers? I've tried nanofil and it doesn't work well with small slip bobbers and I've also tried 6# flourocarbon which doesn't work well either. I've been using crappie stalker floats and they haven't worked the greatest with those two lines.

Cabela's Pro Line #4 mono or Vicious Panfish #4 mono from Grizzly Jig shop are both good values . Also from Grizz shop ,The Carlisle no#783 slip float works well over a jig and heavy shot.

Fishing smaller bodies of water from shore, the fishing has been good. Fishing from my boat, barely anything gill wise. Kinda strange, but then again that is the story of my life.

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Originally Posted by gregsayers2000

Fishing smaller bodies of water from shore, the fishing has been good. Fishing from my boat, barely anything gill wise. Kinda strange, but then again that is the story of my life.

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Yeah that's the way its been for me this summer. I've been out on my boat most of the time this summer and haven't caught much for panfish...kinda weird because I target the same areas on my boat as I would try from shore. I think they're all just deeper than normal this summer. Had a drought last year and lakes are a bit more full this year so I think its a bit screwy this year.

As far as line for slip bobbers,... I keep it simple. I have always been a big fan of Trilene XL and Stren Super Tough mono.

For my Ultra Lites I use the Trilene XL 4-6lb test. And the Med. Action rods I will run 6-8lb test Stren or Trilene.

I also run an old school slip float for Catfish, but thats when I break out the heavy lines. 10-20 lb test mono for cut bait or hot dogs.

Yeah I got no problem with the cats! Lol haven't had a lot of luck with the big ones this year but I've caught a decent amount. Oddly, I've caught most of them the last few weeks, but my gill fishing has slowed a lot. I'll get two or three and that's my cut bait but the problem is that it takes 30-45 minutes to get those two or three. Cats are all deep around here now or on huge drop offs. I'll keep working the gills! I'm going to a lake this weekend that usually produces some gills no matter where your at.

It was real slow for me until a couple of weeks ago. Then for awhile I was pulling gills in right and left as soon as my bait hit the water.

Now they are biting pretty well.

It's been a great year for bluegills here in PA. In the hot summer, the 'gills are on top all afternoon until dark. I use my UL flyrod with small nymphs or sponge spiders.

Now the fall bite has started, and the gills don't come to the top anymore. I use my UL spin with a 1/64 jig and Gulp Alive or if deep, like 20', then I am having great success with a drop shot rig and worm chunks.

God bless the Bluegill! All year, it's the most fun to go after ...... and the best fillets too!

I live in NE as well and I must say that the bluegill fishin has been slow for most of the year. I also have to say that it has picked up some in the last couple of weeks. I went out last weekend and caught several really nice ones. As a side not I have had one of the better years for crappie this year

I have been having some luck around here in the Tulsa area with the little spoons made by Panfishspoons. I have been tipping them with a little piece of red wrigglers and having a blast with the microlite gear. Give brad a shout at PanfishSpoons.com . They are pretty cheap and a great product. I also hear that Ship makes a great spoon also. I just haven't played with it yet.

Bobo

Bobo's Bait'N'Tackle

Thanks, I will check them out

The Bluegill seem to have disappeared here in st. clair co. Can't figure what' going on.

bobydale, I have to agree. At least this week. On Sunday I fished a small private lake that usually gives up some pretty big gills. I caught over 20 pop-corn bass (I quit counting) but no gills. Go figure?

Some days are slow but you just have to keep your CONFIDENCE in your tackle box and press your way through. Trouble does not last always and eventually the bite turns on.

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Originally Posted by Bobo Greybeard

I have been having some luck around here in the Tulsa area with the little spoons made by Panfishspoons. I also hear that Ship makes a great spoon also. I just haven't played with it yet.

Bobo

Bobo's Bait'N'Tackle

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Bobo that is my go to lure. My small spoon tipped with a wax worm. Thanks for the compliments.

in my local lake I'd say the ratio of white perch to sunfish is 60:1. White perch are becoming dominant fast! Maybe it's just the drought we've been having starting in August., but even crappie are easier to catch numbers than sunfish or yellow perch.