Thread: How to catch the Big Boys?

reference to reservoir spillway not oxbows. In the oxbow in my area (Vicksburg,MS) those knotheads are around almost every stump.

This is very tough, Most of the very large bluegills bury up deep in cover and I mean deep. Thats the answer! They come in earlier, to the best spots, stay for shorter periods of time then head back out to deeper cover and bury up most of the time. Every lake is different. You need to move and check and use your depth finder and be patient and constantly rethink and adjust and even then someone else will catch the bigger fish and it will probable be a 12 year old kid who is not paying attention to anything!

Originally Posted by sunfish

First, make sure your lake has big gills, all lakes do not. Fish the deeper side of spawning areas, the biggest 'gills spawn deeper in most cases and try to fish the early spawn, bigger 'gills spawn early. After the spawn big 'gills move to deeper water areas adjacent to spawning areas. They can be metered near structure, humps, outside weed lines, creek channels ect. and fish with CRICKETS! Dave

What is the best way to present a cricket deep? tightline with small splitshot or light line on a slip bobber rig with small splitshot? also what is the best way to hook a cricket?

Originally Posted by treepotato

What is the best way to present a cricket deep? tightline with small splitshot or light line on a slip bobber rig with small splitshot? also what is the best way to hook a cricket?

I try to target the bigger 'gills, so most of my fishing here in California is in 15+ feet. For deep water structure I prefer a vertical drop-shot rig. For deep water drift fishing I use a california rig (light carolina rig) with tungston bullet weight. I don't like using split-shot on light line. I hook a cricket under the back carapace with a light wire hook like the Owner mosquito. Size 8-10. Dave.

Last Saturday my son and I went nightstalking for crappie. I took along
some wax worms. He caught several crappie on minnows, while I fished
for bluegill. I caught 15 gills big enough to filet. Never caught them before
after dark, using a submersable light, we are going again this week.
funny thing, this time of year the crappie always stop biting around ten oclock. They did it again last saturday, and so did the bluegill.

Regards

John Brower

Deep water Bream fishing is something I never have done. The deepest I've ever fished for them was 10 foot when bedding in deep water. I fish 99.9% of the time 5' or less. I've caught Big bream shallow all my life but I only fish one water for bream. I dont know what I'd do with a River bream and 30 feet of line beside ski!!!

My local lake, well one of the three has a riprapped spillway for about an 1/8 mile. I caught a pound and a half bluegill in three feet of water at the height of summer on a crawdad crankbait right in the middle of a featureless run. Just fish, it will happen for you!