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Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
#12392243
08/19/17 12:21 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054
Laker One
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054 |
If you had only one bait to use for catching Sunfish-Bluegill what would it be? Side note. Flyrod baits included.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12392277
08/19/17 01:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,183
boocat
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,183 |
I guess I would have to say live worms but crickets would be up there too, although availability and logistics of crickets are a little more difficult.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12392289
08/19/17 01:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 835
psalty
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 835 |
I would say as a youngster where I didn't have access to worms, I would use grasshoppers & dragonflies that I would actually slap with my belt and fish for bluegills/bream, shiners and frequent catfish on a cane pole. What a blast!
Matthew 4:19 Script-Lures by Psalty founder and directed by the Big Fisherman
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12392441
08/19/17 04:11 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610
Gitter Done
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610 |
Do not target the sunfish but if I did I would use worms.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12392466
08/19/17 04:53 PM
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Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,833
Flags
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 3,833 |
Worms, either regular worms or crawlers. If I'm using crawlers I bust them into pieces about an inch long. I've had good luck on meal worms too.
Retired Navy Chief Signalman NJROTC Instructor Tascosa High School
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12392904
08/20/17 12:38 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 572
WCGunns
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 572 |
My favorite used to be a tube Jig but since I got a 2wt fly rod it's a small #10 white spider fly
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12393005
08/20/17 01:36 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,447
JIM SR.
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12,447 |
meal worms,...
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12393143
08/20/17 03:01 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,446
Dfitz
"Nice Guy"
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"Nice Guy"
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 11,446 |
Don't worry about the mule, just load the cart
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12393148
08/20/17 03:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,079
Wildman of the navidad
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,079 |
Wormies
Psalm:91
Quote on the wildman" They Said he'd eat the hair off of a man's head when he was hungry and squeeze the water out of rocks when he was thirsty"
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12393299
08/20/17 10:07 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
WORMS!
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: banker-always fishing]
#12393428
08/20/17 02:09 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610
Gitter Done
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610 |
WORMS! I had a feeling he would say this.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12393462
08/20/17 02:40 PM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,818
doctorxring
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,818 |
Live maggots. Guys up north call them "spikes".
Worms are my second preference if I don't have maggots.
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12396687
08/22/17 09:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054
Laker One
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 19,054 |
Curly tail grubs!
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12396730
08/22/17 10:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,183
boocat
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,183 |
Hope to try some curly tails and jigs and stuff on bridge pilings hopefully in about 3 weeks or so. Waiting for labor day to be over and maybe get the average temps down a few degrees.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12398270
08/23/17 10:30 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 93
texdanm
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 93 |
I really like little jigs with curly tail grubs. The little guys don't eat it up very often so it is there and deep for the bulls. Sometimes a little spinner harness seems to turn them on too. If they are a little slow I will add a little worm until they get going.
You know that old saying "Some people march to the beat of a different drummer."? I don't listen to a drum at all and have meandered through life instead of marching.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12398824
08/24/17 04:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,196
dhogdog
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,196 |
Last edited by dhogdog; 08/30/17 01:33 AM.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12399086
08/24/17 02:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780
SenkoSam
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780 |
Last edited by SenkoSam; 08/24/17 02:09 PM.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: SenkoSam]
#12399133
08/24/17 02:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780
SenkoSam
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780 |
As you may have noticed in the photos of various species and the lures that got them to strike, fish respond to a lure's shape, action, speed of retrieve and to a lesser degree, color (though I have my favorites).
Line size using light jigs is crucial for allowing the lure the most response to rod twitch and reel handle turns. Fish could care less about line diameter but can not be provoked to strike when a lure's action is muted. Also important is line bow the deeper you fish and the longer the cast. The lure must be fished at a depth the fish are and that means fishing 8' of water, lures must get down to any depth from near surface to on bottom. Strike sensitivity is muted using heavier lines of 10 lb test or more except when using braid of 15 lb test or less.
Braid is my favorite line because of sensitivity and zero stretch, and combined with a light action rod and fluorocarbon leader, ups the percentage of hook sets dramatically! The 1.5' thin 4-6# test leader allows less line bow/ slack.
Medium size reels with a good retrieve ration (3.5 or greater), allows me to reel line in fast while raising the rod tip after a strike (tick of the line) is felt. With light jigs, I never do a hook set like for bass - fast & hard. With pan fish, the fish sets the hook for you when it feels hook resistance as you pull the fish towards you with rod tip at 45 degrees and reel handle turning to maintain pressure on the hook.
The above is for the benefit of those that haven't used the lures, tackle and presentations suggested. Most days I catch over 40 fish / 5 different species using light jigs and any of a huge variety of lures; if I'm lucky to fish schools, over 100 fish. The nicest thing about using jigs is the amount of water searched with your lure that is fan cast either from shore or from a boat and in a variety of depths and over different bottom types. Jig plastic combos can be swum with slight pauses or jigged on bottom at times, but in any case, the lure performs the search and provokes inactive fish to strike.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12399500
08/24/17 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
One AWESOME write up SenkoSam! Thanks for sharing.
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: banker-always fishing]
#12400742
08/25/17 02:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562
J-Moe
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 4,562 |
One AWESOME write up SenkoSam! Thanks for sharing. +1 I enjoyed reading the post.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12401512
08/26/17 12:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,190
fishslime
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,190 |
I use pieces of nightcrawlers because you can catch several fish off one worm, and they can be kept in the frig for some time if not used. Next year, I plan to order a large amount of crickets on line, freeze them, divide into small quantities, take them out when needed, and fish. Apparently,they work as good as live ones.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12406235
08/29/17 09:22 PM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,244
KQT
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,244 |
Fishslime I have heard that frozen crickets work as well. If anyone has tried this please chime in. Wife frowns on worms in the fridge after one escaped.
Common carp 26 Goldfish 9.78lb Mirror Koi 14lb Koi 16lb Channel Catfish 26lbs Blue Cat 30lb Bass 9.5lb
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#12406530
08/30/17 01:36 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,196
dhogdog
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,196 |
Nice pics Senkosam. Thanks for sharing.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#13653597
08/02/20 03:02 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780
SenkoSam
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780 |
Since 2017 post there have been more Frankenstein soft plastic baits that have been very successful even in the middle of a bright, hot sunny summer day. Here are a few that anyone can make or discover using parts of two lures and a candle flame (steady hand needed). Claw tail (claw from a bass crawfish lure added to a segment of French Fry Worm for the body: You can also add a curl tail to the same flat body vs the usual round body: I get far more bites mostly likely because the lure is more visible in green water. Another was joining a flat tail worm to a thicker grub body. I call the lure on the bottom my Cello Tail WormExcellent fish catchers: The Kut Tail tapered flat tail always catches fish once fish are found: They do well with an overhead spinner: The joined grub bodies minus curl tails became one of my best lures for all species: I would hope that some of you would try making any of the above or something different than the humdrum lures off the shelf. I can't emphasize enough how well they catch fish even on the slowest days. Two days ago my partner and I caught over 100 fish in a little over four hours using many of the above though only one of them would have done as well. I just like lure variety when I fish and maybe some fish prefer one or the other. Frank
Last edited by SenkoSam; 08/02/20 03:10 PM.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#13653608
08/02/20 03:17 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,328
SK.
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,328 |
Only one? I'd have to go with the "Bait of Champions" WORMS! They just flat out work.....
Crappie Guide on Houston TX area lakes. Email to schedule a trip: skscrappiecatchingadventures@gmail.com or call my message line 281-301-9316 REGARDLESS OF HOW MANLY YOU THINK YOU ARE WEARING A PFD CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE.....Onxy A/M 24 PFD's Check Out SK's CRAPPIE Catching Adventures on YouTube.... https://www.youtube.com/user/fishingorhunting
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#13653612
08/02/20 03:24 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,715
F4 Gator
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,715 |
Curly tail grubs! x 2
Phormer Phantom Phlyer
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#13653631
08/02/20 03:54 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,814
Vogey
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,814 |
Wow...A lot has transpired sins 2017 ! As of today 2020, I would have to say that the Gulp Alive 1" minnow is my go to...by far. 400-500 fish days just don't lie...
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Vogey]
#13653712
08/02/20 05:35 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
Wow...A lot has transpired sins 2017 ! As of today 2020, I would have to say that the Gulp Alive 1" minnow is my go to...by far. 400-500 fish days just don't lie... That does not surprise me at all! Side Note: I will stick to the good old Night Crawler Worm!
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#13654950
08/03/20 06:31 PM
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 18
BugEyez
Green Horn
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Green Horn
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 18 |
Red wigglers or night crawlers??
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Vogey]
#13655644
08/04/20 07:31 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588
jagg
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 4,588 |
Wow...A lot has transpired sins 2017 ! As of today 2020, I would have to say that the Gulp Alive 1" minnow is my go to...by far. 400-500 fish days just don't lie... Yup! In 2017 I would have definitely said the grub/plastic combo would have been supreme for me as well, but in the past three years an small in-line spinnerbait has been taking top honors. Still a jig/plastic combo if I need to fish deeper and/or slower. Especially once I’ve found the fish holding spots and need a more finesse bait to stay catching’
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#13657213
08/05/20 12:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736
banker-always fishing
Pumpkin Head
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Pumpkin Head
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 75,736 |
Times have not changed for me! Worms and only worms are still my "Go to Bait" !
IGFA World Record Rio Grande Cichlid. Lake Dunlap. John 3:16 Sinner's Prayer. God forgive me a sinner. I accept Jesus Christ as my Savior !
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#14174634
10/29/21 01:58 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780
SenkoSam
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780 |
One presentation I was surprised to see was a shoreline angler catch panfish using a float and enough line beneath it to work a curl tail way out from shore. He didn't know the depth was 8' where the rig landed but his 3' leader allowed the lure to be deep enough to be at the level the fish were. A few years ago I used the same rig and do remember catching crappie on it but haven't used it since.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: SenkoSam]
#14177377
11/01/21 02:48 AM
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 251
David Newton
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 251 |
I mean what else can be said after SenkoSam chimed in? Looking at my table right this minute I've decided I'm connecting a twist tie to a Q-tip to a spade connector. See you out on the water Frank! I keep saying it but I'll say it again. Float fishing with light jig heads and soft plastics is some of the most exciting fishing there is. One presentation I was surprised to see was a shoreline angler catch panfish using a float and enough line beneath it to work a curl tail way out from shore. He didn't know the depth was 8' where the rig landed but his 3' leader allowed the lure to be deep enough to be at the level the fish were. A few years ago I used the same rig and do remember catching crappie on it but haven't used it since. This is why I prefer slip floats with bobber stops. Fish at 50 feet if you like. Still castable. I started fishing in Asia where I've lived for over a decade and you will not see a clip on float in any store anywhere.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#14179987
11/03/21 01:07 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114
gar1970
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,114 |
1/32 JIGLYF jigs are my go-to bait for bluegill and anything else that swims
Last edited by gar1970; 11/05/21 12:35 AM.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: gar1970]
#14180237
11/03/21 03:53 PM
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610
Gitter Done
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 17,610 |
1/32 JIGLYF jigs are my go-to bait for bluegill and anything else that swims Judging by your post, they work very well also.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#14180541
11/03/21 08:06 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 149
BigJoeTx1212
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 149 |
We've had fun fishing with Gulp! Live! the past couple of years but when things don't work the good Ol' box of worms does the job.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#14180900
11/04/21 01:17 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780
SenkoSam
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780 |
I keep saying it but I'll say it again. Float fishing with light jig heads and soft plastics is some of the most exciting fishing there is. David, I hope I still have time this year to fish the float & grub. I did well in fall a few years ago and believe I'll do even better with the small, thin plastic lures I started using for fish that only nip at a bait. I have to use a 1/64 oz jig with a #8 hook. Interesting though, once one fish is caught in a spot - especially under a float - other fish come around and start slamming lures in a frenzy. Guess aggression is contagious.... The hand-injected mini-sticks (above) caught a 3lb bass last week along with sunnies.
Last edited by SenkoSam; 11/04/21 08:45 AM.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: SenkoSam]
#14181738
11/04/21 08:42 PM
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Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 251
David Newton
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 251 |
I keep saying it but I'll say it again. Float fishing with light jig heads and soft plastics is some of the most exciting fishing there is. [img]https:[/img] This is a yellow perch right? Was this caught in Texas? This fish is on my list of fish to catch but I don't know where to go.
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Re: Your Favorite Go to Bait for Sunfish-Bluegill.
[Re: Laker One]
#14181893
11/05/21 12:26 AM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780
SenkoSam
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 780 |
It is and there are lakes in Texas where they're located. That fish was caught in NY.
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