Using bluegill in place of minnows

[10jhoops]

I have a pond over run with bluegill and I started to just trap them. They rang in size from 1”-3”. Has anyone had any luck using them on a double minnow rig or reasons not to use them? I’m in Kentucky so it legal to use them. Just curious if anyone has tried.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[whiskerwhipper]

I've caught crappies on quarter sized gills. Small gills can stand the warm water temperature than minnows. Used #16 match hooks to catch em. If the body of water has nice cats, bass, and stripers, you'll catch the bonus trio too. Their body shapes doesn't suit double rigs and I just semi free lined them around bridge pilings and brush piles.

[patrapper]

I have never used them on crappies but I have used them on bass and had great success. I have also used them for walleye on the some of the rivers here in Pa. Walleye love em.

Sent from my LML212VL using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app

[Eagle 1]

Great flathead catfish bait ,wish you were closer .

[Ketchn]

I have seen a crappie regurgitate a 1.5 inch long sunfish when I was ketchn them crappie in a pond .
I never used them as bait but I have read an article that said some of the largest crappie in small impoundments relish them .
If I were to use one it would be dorsal hooked on a fine wire hook under a real tiny float very early in the day close to shore .

[Just_Bass]

It is illegal here in SoCal, but I’m afraid if big bass or big cat grab it and your UL/L set up cannot handle the run. Just today I had something big grab crappies jig and ran. It ran a good 30 secs before I cloud started reel in the line, even that when it started to run again I couldn’t stop them. I tried for a few minutes and I only have 70yds in my spool. I even told a guy next to me that I might not be able to get this fish in with my UL setup and nobody around have net. Finally I gave in and started using my thumb to slowdown the run. The hook pop out with no bend and I’ll never know how big that fish, but I 80% sure it was a cat becuz all those time it never seem to come up to surface.

[trypman1]

Wonderful catfish baits!

[LittleJohn]

Great catfish bait.
LittleJohn