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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Bluegill => Topic started by: Melbs7 on Dec 27, 2003, 12:30 PM

Title: Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Melbs7 on Dec 27, 2003, 12:30 PM
Yesterday i went out on 2 different lakes. On both lakes i was using Nuclear Ants as well as other various small jigs. I tipped everything with wax worms. I didnt catch a single thing on either lake. On the 1st lake, the guy 20 feet away from me just kept reeling them in. I asked him what he was using and he just said he was using a spike on a small jig. 1st of all.... isnt a spike basically the same thing as a waxie? the second lake i dont know if anyone else was catching anything or not. it was dark and people were too far away to hear if they had luck or not. what am i doing wrong here? thanks!!!

Melbs         :'(
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: IceKing on Dec 27, 2003, 02:23 PM
Are you using a spring bobber or other sensitive strike indicator? Did you try some smaller jigs. I don't think the type of grub will make too much difference, but the lure size and technique might.
you should've asked the guy that was catching them what depth he was at, what depth the fish were at, and what color jigs he was using.
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Melbs7 on Dec 27, 2003, 03:21 PM
i had one set-up with a spring bobber and another with a VERY small float bobber. he looked like he was dropping the line down about 10 feet. I was trying all different depths.

Melbs
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: daffydone on Dec 27, 2003, 04:39 PM
I'm far from an expert,but I would watch what the other guy was doing. was he jigging alot,letting the rod sit? alot of movement on the ice can spook fish, but I have also sat next to people who were a foot away from me and killing them and I didn't even get a bite. maybe ask the guy what #test was he using or color of his jig, some guys are reluctant to tell you what they are using.
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Gillfisher-WI on Dec 27, 2003, 08:10 PM
Were you getting any bites? Were you able to see fish down the hole? If the guy was twenty feet from you he may have been on some "structure" that you were not. Maybe he was on some weeds that were standing taller or were greener or, or, or. How much moving did you do? If your not getting a bite in 10 to 15 minutes, move until you find active fish.
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Melbs7 on Dec 28, 2003, 08:07 AM
no i was not getting any bites..... i didnt not see any fish down the hole although i could only see about 5 feet down er so. i guess i didnt really do any moving cuz i 'knew' that they were close and could very well be there.


Melbs           :'(
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Iceshanty on Dec 28, 2003, 10:18 AM
Moving would be the first thing to do, sometimes it's comes down a matter of inches. Drill lots of holes in an area, hop around giving, each a few minutes. Still can't get any bites? Start messing with your presentation; hide the tip of the hook, lighter line, jig color, size and shape. Change your jigging action.
How deep are you fishing?
Bluegills can run the whole water column, try using a slow falling jig, light but not so it drives you crazy trying to get the jig down the hole. It's a quick way to search the water from top to bottom, active bluegills have a very hard time resisting the slow fall.

-Scott
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Luckydog on Dec 28, 2003, 02:13 PM
A spike is not the same as a waxie.  A spike is a maggot and is much smaller than a waxie.  I usually use two or three spikes at a time on the jig -- let the fish tell you what kind of setup they want.  On Friday all the fish came on spikes, they wouldn't touch a waxie.  On Saturday all they would hit was waxies...wouldn't touch a spike.  Go figure.
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Melbs7 on Dec 28, 2003, 03:34 PM
went out and bought some spikes today so that the next time i go out.... i will have some more choices!!!


Melbs        :'(
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: acsacmboy on Dec 29, 2003, 10:23 AM
i have relly had never good luck on waxies. only spikes... just me i guess...  good luck on catching them big gills
Title: Re:Blue Gill Problems
Post by: Wscaman on Dec 29, 2003, 02:10 PM
Try this.

Any rod----Spring bobber indicator.
2 lbs Stren High Vis Gold
2 lbs - 36-48" Seguar flourocarbon, blood knot
2lbs -18" Seguar flourocarbon, blood knot, leave ~4" of one tag end and tie a Trout Fly/nymph, with 1/3red of a Spike
the end tie a #16 1/80 oz jig (rotate  Pink, Green Chartruse or Yellow Chartruse, the Black then White)

Find weeds
Find depth and get near the bottom.
Some days the fly catches 3 to 1 orthers it reverses.

Good Luck