Topwater bluegill...

[CrappieDontTap]

I've been thinking a lot about different ways to fish for bluegill. At Wal-Mart I came across Betts bluegill poppers, so I got me a pack to try.
I was wondering if anyone has any tips on topwater fishing.
A guy near me says to go a few hours before dark when the wind lays down (it's always so windy here. 15-20 mph gusts here all week.) and tie one on about 3' below a bubble float and work around trees and cattails.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks...

[deathb4disco]

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on topwater fishing.

Get a fly rod. Much more fun than the bubble.

[Jman5626]

Get a fly rod. Much more fun than the bubble.

X2. I love fishing for gills with my fly rod. Tie on a popper and start whipping the banks!


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[CrappieDontTap]

[CrappieDontTap]

[Spoonminnow]

There are a huge number of surface lures I can use for panfish as well as ways to fish them. But first you have to know if there is a surface bite and then the depth the bite is happening. I typically go with small plastics on 1/32 oz unpainted, ball head jigs to test various depths. The shallower the jig bite, the more apt the surface bite can happen.

Once I start catching fish in the upper part of the water column, I attach a 3' light line leader (2lb test mono or fc) rigged to a small soft plastic lure on a small straight shank hook and float. Poppers are okay, but I'd rather use small plastics and flies for the most finesse action near the surface.

As far as matching the hatch, I gave up on that superstition years ago and have proven that if a bite located, even a same lure in the same color works 100 % of the time.

Here are a few examples of lures that can be used surface and subsurface:

Note the lure pictured on the right was cut from the bass craw bait. Any lure with the two thin strands gets clobbered.




(note the 1/64 oz jig attached to the above lure. As the float is moved, the plastic rises near the surface and then slowly drops.)

Any thin tail as seen in the photo below and attached to a thin wire hook or super light jighead works great under a float or with no float.


As far as time of day, cloudy day: most of the day has potential; simi-cloudy day: you never know unless you try; bright sunny day with no breeze: good luck...

[CrappieDontTap]

I won't have to check the water column much. A lot of times you can see the fish coming up to hit the top of the water.
The one lake I fish is surrounded by overhanging trees, so in the evenings the lake comes alive.

I do love that crawdad you cut down. What brand craw is that?

I really don't try to match the hatch either. I usually just go with black. A lot of YouTube guys say go with black ants.

[skeetbum]

Poppers are a gas, no question in my mind. I have also used a #5 Rapala with good results. My input on those are to cast them to what you think is the right place and don't move them for a full minute. Lots of takes in that time. When you do move it the first time, breath on it, just barely make it move and have a snug line when you do. I got a lot on the first twitch and a quick hookset is key to landing the fish. Lots of other fish on the Rapala too. Never used a clear bobber but have heard it's used a lot. I usually cast tiny jigs and slow roll them back and occasionally drop the rod tip and watch the line for the telltale twitch. Poppers come in lots of styles and I used the cheap Betts flat face poppers most. Colors change some but the good ones will show pretty quick. Solid black and solid chartreuse always get some play, with Orange and green also being players in the game. Have fun and keep us posted.

[CrappieDontTap]

Poppers are a gas, no question in my mind. I have also used a #5 Rapala with good results. My input on those are to cast them to what you think is the right place and don't move them for a full minute. Lots of takes in that time. When you do move it the first time, breath on it, just barely make it move and have a snug line when you do. I got a lot on the first twitch and a quick hookset is key to landing the fish. Lots of other fish on the Rapala too. Never used a clear bobber but have heard it's used a lot. I usually cast tiny jigs and slow roll them back and occasionally drop the rod tip and watch the line for the telltale twitch. Poppers come in lots of styles and I used the cheap Betts flat face poppers most. Colors change some but the good ones will show pretty quick. Solid black and solid chartreuse always get some play, with Orange and green also being players in the game. Have fun and keep us posted.

I will keep you posted. The next 7 days is 10-17 mph wind gusts so it could be a minute on topwater action. But Friday next week looks golden.
I'm excited. I love pop'n for bass.
This should be fun.

[Spoonminnow]

I do love that crawdad you cut down. What brand craw is that?

Bass Pro had a series of soft plastics under the Caterpillar name, long discontinued. Worms, grubs, craws and French Fry worms all had those knobs.