this winter my plan is to get into catching bluegill for cut bait and after reading about how people talk about the way they taste, I am going to have to try some in the pan myself too. How does the bite for this fish change during winter? Do they go really deep or can they still be caught shallow as well?

I find mine in Creeks in Nov to Jan, find some down trees and gab some worms.... Horizontal trees in the water is best IMO

i grabbed some tiny Gulp minnows to compare worms too as well to see what works best. i bought some small J hooks at Gander Mountain that were labeled panfish hooks but cant remember what size they were. What size and type hooks do yall use? I was worried in getting anything too big.

Usually during the winter months the sunfish are less active. Sunfish usually move to deeper water in the winter and hang around brush piles,ledges,and grass beds. If the winter is a super cold one and the water temperature is on the cold side sunfish will not move hardly at all. The bite is also non aggressive druing the winter months. Use smaller pieces of worm and have patients. If fishing shallow creeks,ponds,or small lakes try to find brush piles by the deepest parts. Sunken timber and down tree limbs usually hold sunfish during the winter months. If the creek has good flow try to fish outside the current. Spring thru early November are usually the good sunfish months.



Side Note: Pan Fried Bluegill are hard to beat!

CW,
Size 6 hooks are as big as you need for sunfish. IMO, not much beats nightcrawlers or other live baits but I have done well on the Gulp minnows and maggots. I would try creeks or ponds first during the winter but if on a bigger lake try deeper brush piles, bridge pylons, etc.