Best tips for finicky gills

[HWeber]

Just got an underwater camera and was watching how many gills come up and check out my jig and swim away. Amy tips for when they just don't want to bite?

[Swift]

A smaller and darker offering often works. They'll use their mouth to test/taste things even when not in a feeding mood since they don't have hands. Watch fish in an aquarium and all the CRAP they'll suck in and spit out. Many small real food tidbits are tiny and dark that we don't use as bait yet they'll feed on them

[slipperybob]

There are times when a small trout plastic worm rigged like a wacky worm rig for bass fishing works better than a plastic rigged on a jig.  I've done well with a #8 hook but will switch to a #10 if need be.

[Van_Cleaver]

A dead stick often catches gills for me mid day when the bite is off. Sometimes jigging isn't what they want. I like a Schooley rod with a piece of busted rod or dowel through the handle. Otherwise it becomes a gone rig.

[HWeber]

Thanks for the replies tried some smaller jigs this weekend has some better luck. The lake I fish is loaded with perch 6-8 inches with a few big ones mixed in here in there. The perch eat almost anything thrown at them and are more aggressive than the gills. Never seem to find the bluegills by themselves

[Townie]

2.5mm Fiskas jig w/ Little Atom Micro Noodle plastic tail is my go-to for neutral gills

[TeeBugg]

small dark colored jigs 3mm works for me with a contraband small waxy plastic. best luck ive had is black brown or purple

[hnd]

I'll go the other way.  sometimes smaller works,  sometimes bare hooks and a 1/4" piece of crawler works.  but a lot of the time i go UP in size.  slap a 5mm jig,  maybe a jigging spoon or a small jigging rap.   

[jrodm13]

Usually when they aren't biting I switch to a small brown VMC Tungsten Fly.  So, I suppose I'd agree with those saying smaller and darker.

[italianice77]

dead sticking small 12-14 horizotal jig with gulp or one live spike or sometime's i use a dropper rig, the flash from the spoon brings them in and then they hit the tiny jig or hook hanging down below.

[bassandbucks1]

I also agree with the smaller more natural/darker colors. When I have a lot of lookers and no-takers I usually switch to a hares ear nymph (added wraps of lead around it to give it a little more weight), or a black ant ice jig, or a very tiny purple rat-finkee. I also usually go from 2-3 spikes to just a single spike on the lure and cover the hook point. I also try to slowly "feather" the bait down by gently shaking the rod as it falls. But even on a normal day I also always have at least 4 rods rigged up with different bait styles on them. I'm amazed at how often I'll be catching fish on one style/color and then have the screen go dead or have more lookers than takers. Grab another rod drop the new bait down and things heat up again.

[Ice Surveyor]

Use 2lb test line, and you'll get more bites.  I use PLine.

[Wollypog]

sometimes I also change the size of my jig or the number of spikes, sometimes I'll go to an ice fly tied with a small amount of lead wire on the shank that sinks so slowly that it gives a more natural appearance and movement. I've also seen times where I'd be fishing with spikes and catching only small ones and switch to a bare jig and catch better gills.

[Duck-Hunter]

Tough bite, I down size jig and bait. Also slow down my jigging. Flies, dark and natural colors work great. Don't be afraid to toss on one of those lead Jigs we all seem to forget about. The slow and subtle flutter those create often get then most tight lipped fish to snap

[troutbum32]

Absolutely recommend trying going down in terms of line thickness (just for the tippet) then increase your hook size if that doesn't work!

[Dickbakers]

 ???wax worm or maggot. Many times it makes all the difference.

[PikeKing23]

Mousie!

[Iceassin]

 I'll start from the back:

3# Mono

36# wire leader spring bobber (homemade)

3mm tungsten jig (90% of the time) with barrel swivel and small split shot or
4mm tungsten with barrel swivel...no split shot. These combinations work well (sensitivity) with the spring bobbers I use.

Colors: solid gold, orange/chartreuse or wonderbread (clown works too) are my primaries. I know other colors work but these are the most successful for me.

Spikes are all I use. Usually 1...sometimes 2. And refresh often. I buy them by the thousand so I might as well use them.

But the big thing for me is presentation and this varies: 1)Pound the jig aggressively on the bottom for a few seconds then raise slowly and steadily. 2) Start jig just off bottom and jig slightly while raising (don't stop). 3) Again, starting at or near bottom raise slowly an inch or 2 while jigging subtly then pause a second or 2...repeat as necessary. I rarely find a gill that will bite a jig that stays still for very long.

Hope this helps.

 

[HWeber]

Three years later the advice I'd give myself when I started this thread is fish for perch lol

[Muggsy]

Three years later the advice I'd give myself when I started this thread is fish for perch lol

That put a smile on my face!