[elshale]

Ok. When fishing with blue gills I have always just turned them into cut bait. How do you fish with them alive and how big should they big or small. What rig works best with this and how do you hook it so you catch the cat.

 

[s_self88]

I think it is best to hook them above the dorsal fin. Make sure not to hit any bones. A carolina or a three-way rig would be best. Depending on hook size, they should usually be around 4" - 6".

 

[elshale]

Do channels like setups like this.

 

[BassMassey]

live bait would work for channels, but usually when i know there arent any flatheads around i will cut em up.........live bait is usually to target flatheads.........from my experiences anyway, but a channel has been known to hit on live bait..........but i would fish em dead.....

 

[elshale]

when you fish them dead do you cut them up or just leave them whole. I use bluegill cut bait all the time.

 

[Guest]

when fishing live bluegills i hook them behind the dorsal fin and cut their
tails off so they can just wiggle around and not swim for cover.
the best way i have found to use cut gills is to catch some shad and smash
them up and soak the cut gills in the juice for a day or two keep them cool
and dont let them spoil the shad has enough oil and odor.i have found this
to be an excellent mix,give it a try and let us know how it works for you.
CAPT.KIRK

 

[greggofish]

All of the above info is right on the money.

After years of using bream for big Channel Catfish, here are a few tips guaranteed to help have more success:

1: I have found that a 5/0 Kahle style hook is the best hook to use with live bluegills. This hook works with small and big baits. You will hook them solid everytime.

2: When hooking a bream behind the dorsal fin, be very careful not to go through the spine. If you go just under it, the bream will pull harder and live longer, hence drawing more attention to themselves.

3: Always have a few Green Sunfish mixed in if you can get em. They are always caught right in the rocks around rip rap on worms. These little guys pull harder on a hook than any other bream family member. The one thing though, if you use them around brush, use a 3 way and put em 3 feet or so up the line. They love to bury up and will any chance they get.

4: Use a pair of sharp scissors to snip off the "fan" part of the tail to keep em swimming crazy...works better than a knife.


5: Make sure you let the dorsal spines stick you about 26 times in the middle of the night. The extra blood dripping off your hands acts like chum. At least that what I tell myself.

Good Luck.........

 

[derbycitycatman]

When fishing for channels with bluegills I like to use a slip bobber setup. Hook it behind the dorsal fin and let it swim. If im going to fish on bottom I would hook it in its tail. I read this somewhere on the board. When hooked in the tail the fish will swim up, and hooked below the dorsal fin the fish will swim down, I think. Also try just smashing the bluegill so its a bloody mess on either setup.
Dont be surprised if you catch any bass fishing like this if they are in the pond too.

 

[hawkman]

IMO green sunfish are a better bait than bluegills, they stay alive longer and they are more active

 

[WylieCat]

I mainly fish for Channel cats where I am. Flatheads are rare where I fish, so live bait is not as important.

I use all parts of a Bluegill, but the heads seem to work best right now. I am cathcing fish 4:1 when using heads and other parts. Tail section seem to really be bad right now.

Most of the fish I catch are in the 3-7 pound range, and the live bream need to be fairly small for the cats to take them whole.

Another good thing to use is Crappie heads and fillets. If you fish for Crappie, don't discard those heads!! The meaty fillets seem to be catching fish as good as the heads right now where I am.

 

[JERMSQUIRM]

ya got somr good info already here. the fatty meaty part just behind the dorsel i reccomend most. through the lip or eyes in current the fish glides smooth with the current and don't work. throught the tail will get the smae results. in the back between the dorsal and tail the fish can work and go where he chooses. make sure with live to only leave 6-7"of leader or in cover they can wrap ya tight before ya even get a hit. i use carolina rig. for flathead 3-6 " baits are fine or even a little bigger. for channel cats cut off the tails and 2-4" work well. i caught a 3# channel on a 4" gill last year and was really suprized. was looking for flats. for all in all channel fishing use cut. they preffer smell. flats are looking for a mcnugget on wheels. there a predator. channels are more scavenger than predator. however both will have thier exceptions when hungey. :glare:

 

[Redtick]

The tip on using crappie parts is good advise. For me, crappie are sometimes easier to come by than bluegills. Crappie are legal to use here in Illinois but are not legal in some states.

 

[elshale]

Thanks Guys that has shed some light on a lot of questions.

 

[danyelle]

i use 2-5" bluegill and hook them through the lips. flatheads eat their prey headfirst . i use octopus circles 4/0. let them run enough to swallow the fish and load up your rod then just start cranking!!

 

[crazy_crappie88]

I usually would stick the hook through the bottom lip and up throgh the top lip.They shouldnt be too big, to where they fall off the hook. I hope this helps u out.Good Luck