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Took my son bluegill fishing yesterday in Fishing Creek. We caught a bunch, but only a dozen or so keepers. Have we missed the spawn? As I am new to the area...any tips???? We found a few beds, but they were empty. Never thought I'd see the day when I'd be asking for bluegill tips. LOL. I can catch stripers, but the gills are giving me fits.
Yeah you missed it by about a week or two. Wait till the next full moon phase and you should be able to get back on those big bull bluegill. If I ain't mistaking bluegill will nest every full moon phase and that is when it is the best. Look a little deeper for the monsters, the smaller gills will spawn up shallower, while the big bulls stay back a little deeper. Hope this helps.
thanks dc...we'll give it a try first weekend in June.
You learn something everyday...I didn't realize Bluegill go on the nest during each full moon phase.
I hope I am telling you correct on the gills. I know May and June are prime months for them and caught them nesting as late as August. We go every full moon phase and find them on the nest and usually catch some monsters to the point you can get picky on what you keep. Something else you can try for them is drifting. Try fishing some nesting areas and just basically drift nightcrawlers or even minnows in about 10 to 12 ft of water. Let the bait bounce on the bottom or just off the bottom a little bit and it is a good way to cover a lot of ground. Once you find a few big gills just hang around the area a little while until you start getting smaller fish and then move on a little bit untli you find the next nest. Just remember the big ones will be a little bit deeper than the smaller ones and you may not be able to see their nests. Have Patience.
I have not been to Cumberland yet in search for the Bulls due to the ramp conditions at the Dam and State Park but as soon as they open up the Pumpkin Creek ramp I will be ready.
I want to throw out a few of tips...dont overlook the new moon. It pulls the big bulls up but not as good as the full moon. When fishing at Cumberland if you think you are fishing deep pull out farther because it will suprise you at how deep the big Bulls hold.
With the new draw down this year will be interesting for me. Typically when the lake was full or almost full all you had to do was go into a large cove and find cuts where the water would run off the hillside. I call them dry branches due to the fact that they only have water running in during rain storms. They are dry most of the year. Those dry branches have dirt and sand washed into the V in the cut below the water line and the Bluegill love to spawn in that type of area.
5'6" ultralight splitshot cricket with 6 pound line is one heck of a fight on 10"-11" Bluegill that weigh 3/4-1 pound...get the cole slaw and cornbread ready.
R19