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Bluegill--Estimated Live Time #10835696 05/11/15 06:58 PM
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Aixsponsa Offline OP
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If a healthy bluegill is hooked under their dorsal fin, high in the back, how long would you expect it to stay alive and kicking (if it isn't eaten).

Are we talking about 10s of minutes, a few hours, overnight...? For the sake of the question, let's say this gill is about 4" long, 5/0 kahle, little or no current.

What about hooked elsewhere? I set out some gills yesterday, they were alive when I put them on the hook, but they were dead within 2 1/2 hours. I'll admit, I think I hooked them too far back (after the dorsal), and that may have played a part in it by wearing them down.

New to live gills for bait, just trying to get a feel for it. The 2 bullheads I had on were strong as ever.


If you can either quickly or quietly switch out shells, you can bring home almost anything.
Wet Rooster Jigs Fishing Super Store
Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10835725 05/11/15 07:09 PM
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redchevy Offline
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Id say it depends. I have had them stay on a hook for a few days alive if they weren't harassed by smaller fish/turtles/gar etc. Ive also had them dead within a 1/2 hour or so.

If you can find a way to hook them not in the body they tend to live longer for me. I hate kahle style hooks for set lines. I like circle hooks and I hook my bait over the eyes, through the eye socket, but not through the middle of they eye, had very good luck with that.

Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10835844 05/11/15 07:52 PM
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Ranger7 Offline
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I think it depends but the way to keep them alive until you use them is very important. Make sure to keep them in a bucket or container with lots of water in it and use good aerator - the more air you give them the more lively and alive they will be. I had them on a hook for hours sometimes and at the end of the night I would take them off and they would still be alive and kicking. I recently also found out that warmouths are better and more lively so if you can catch some of those, it would be better.

Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10835889 05/11/15 08:03 PM
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Aixsponsa Offline OP
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Thanks. I will be getting an aerator on my next trip to a store.

I also think I am going to rig up a "Colorado River Rigs". I think that'll work well too.

Just found this http://www.in-fisherman.com/catfish/flathead-catfish/one-cool-catfish-rig/

Not sure if the catfish community uses them much. Seems like a lot of extra work, but it might be worth it...


If you can either quickly or quietly switch out shells, you can bring home almost anything.
Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10835891 05/11/15 08:03 PM
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redchevy Offline
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I have found the opposite, warmouths almost always die the fastest and seems like they just sit there after you hook them. Green sunfish are some of my favorites.

Rio grand ciclids, the grayish black speckled ones are great bait and very hardy. I have caught a 30 lb yella cat on one took the cat off and rehooked the bait and turned it loose the next day and it swam off. I doubt it survived, but it sure swam off pretty good.

Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10836932 05/12/15 02:28 AM
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taterpop Offline
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No matter how much life they have in them if you drop them down where there is no oxygen they are dead in a little while.

Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Ranger7] #10836956 05/12/15 02:34 AM
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Bittercreek Offline
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Originally Posted By: Ranger7
I think it depends but the way to keep them alive until you use them is very important. Make sure to keep them in a bucket or container with lots of water in it and use good aerator - the more air you give them the more lively and alive they will be. I had them on a hook for hours sometimes and at the end of the night I would take them off and they would still be alive and kicking. I recently also found out that warmouths are better and more lively so if you can catch some of those, it would be better.

Good Info:

Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10836963 05/12/15 02:37 AM
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Bittercreek Offline
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The bigger Perch/Brim/Bluegills. Are harder to transport. With that said.
They will stay alive longer. Try to keep them off the bottem. 'Bout 18".
As the silt and mud from current will clog their gills and kill them.
Good-Luck.

Re: Bluegill--Estimated Live Time [Re: Aixsponsa] #10839243 05/12/15 11:10 PM
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Chuck29 Offline
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Not typical but have seen them live on a trot line for up to three or four days given that the water temp is 60 to 70 range but usually about a day

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