Springtime is upon us. That means warmer weather and allergy season is here. But that also means fish are on the move with warmer weather. Species such as largemouth bass and bluegill are getting ready for their springtime spawn. Here in central Florida this is usually between late February and late April. Let's take a look at how to catch some springtime bluegill.
Bluegill are among some of the tastiest and easiest fish to catch in freshwater, but it does help to know how to target them. Start by locating structure or weed lines (lily pads, hydrilla, etc.) around the bank. Bluegill will congregate around any kind of structure when they go to bed to lay their eggs. Depth will range anywhere from 2 to 8 foot or so. Bluegill love a variety of baits but I have had the best luck catching bigger fish using crickets and red wiggler worms, which can be bought at any bait and tackle shop. Crickets are my go to bait of choice. Bluegill will also bite throughout the day and they don't mind the middle of the day heat either. For a fishing rig you can either use an ultralight spinning rod or a cane pole. I like to use 4 - 6 lb test mono-filament line with a #1 or #2 gold hook as shown in the picture. I also add a small split shot weight and a clip on cork. And that's all there is to the rig.
I like to bounce around and look for quick bites. If there are fish that are staging and congregated ready to spawn then they will usually bite right away. If you go several minutes without getting a bite either reposition your bait closer to the structure or keep moving. Once you catch one big one chances are there will be plenty more there. If you are catching only small ones I would recommend moving to another location. It shouldn't take you long to catch your limit for a fish fry once you've located some fish!
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