Thread: Gills & drops

I was just thinking about habitat drops. We always hear about attracting crappie and bass with artificial structures. Can't recall ever relating gills to this practice. I usually automatically think weeds and rocks. Has anyone have experience with this.

Good question, I'm watching too.

Originally Posted by silverside

We always hear about attracting crappie and bass with artificial structures. Can't recall ever relating gills to this practice.

Because most people only fish for gills during the spawn.

Gills relate to structure just like other fish. It's just that almost nobody fishes for them.

Originally Posted by deathb4disco

Because most people only fish for gills during the spawn.

Gills relate to structure just like other fish. It's just that almost nobody fishes for them.

I'm one of the few you mention that targets gills year round.I agree,gills hang out in many the same structure as crappie,proof in the puddin,very rarely do I not catch gills and crappie while fishing structure.The difference may be that gills tend to occupy a wider variety of habitat than crappie,thus making often easier to locate one species over the other,imho.

I just was thinking that maybe gills are more selective on kind of structure. Or maybe not. Most of my large gill are caught year-round in 20 fow. Seem to be no structure around except small patches of weeds. My mind works in strange ways when I start thinking

Originally Posted by silverside

I just was thinking that maybe gills are more selective on kind of structure. Or maybe not. Most of my large gill are caught year-round in 20 fow. Seem to be no structure around except small patches of weeds. My mind works in strange ways when I start thinking

In-Fisherman has published more on gills and structure than anybody. They're practically the only source for this kind of info. If you go to their site and search the archives, I'm sure you could find some good articles.

Originally Posted by silverside

I just was thinking that maybe gills are more selective on kind of structure. Or maybe not. Most of my large gill are caught year-round in 20 fow. Seem to be no structure around except small patches of weeds. My mind works in strange ways when I start thinking

They like the grass around here, Reed grass mostly in the ponds around here. Catch quality fish around here trolling crickets on full moon at night, these ponds,lakes are like Gin, so you can't get right on them unless it's low light ,so I troll rapalas, works for me. IMHO they like the grass

For a new lake I would watch the bass guys....
I like the outside of weed banks.

Originally Posted by silverside

I was just thinking about habitat drops. We always hear about attracting crappie and bass with artificial structures. Can't recall ever relating gills to this practice. I usually automatically think weeds and rocks. Has anyone have experience with this.

we always build gravel beds for brim when building a new pond or lake. as for as dropping structure in the water never really tried that. don't know why you couldn't though.

Some of the best pond fishing spots I've had are around fully submerged lay downs and stumps. So I assume brush piles in the right locations would work well also but never really tried to create specific habitat for them before.