Where are the bluegills?

[vincent]

I went fishing with my dad yesterday at Seven Points and got skunked big time. Real big time. Two of us fishing for about 3 hours from 6.45-9.45am, and all we got were four sunfish. Tried red wigglers and mealworms, and ofcourse suspended shiners and bluegill for stripers/hybrids.

Likewise on July 4th too. Got skunked big time. My dad couldn't wait to get to Nashville to catch bluegills. He is here for two months on vacation; it looks like super slow fishing at Seven Points. I mean I cant believe it's this slow for bluegill. What should I do different to catch some bluegills from the shore?

[bd-]

They have moved deeper because it is so hot. Shallow water near the shore is just too warm right now. Look for a place where you can cast to some deeper water with plenty of shade.

Also, fish very early in the morning before the temps heat up. Usually, fish are most active around sunrise and sunset. But lately sunset hasn't been as good because the water temps are still oppressively hot when the sun goes down, and it takes a few hours for it to start to cool off. If you're not out there at first light, you're missing the best fishing of the day.

[Alphahawk]

bd is right about the water temps. That holds true most of the time. I have caught them cast after cast at Laurel Hill with water temps at 92...but...that was probably unusual. I have read a ton of books...articles...written by the so called Bluegill experts. I hunt these things. If they don't come up shallow to feed in the morning they will most likely do it about and hour before sunset and do it with a feeding frenzy. Water color plays an important part when the temps rise. If the water is pea soup green...like an algae bloom...they will hug the bottom even if only 2 feet off the bank and will not move more than 6 inches up to take the bait. I am no Gill expert but out of everything I fish for I love to catch them the most....and at times you could more easily catch an 8 pound Large Mouth than catch some nice Gills if they aren't in the mood.


Regards

[vincent]

Thank you bd and alphahawk for the advice.

I guess I'll try for catfish just to get some fish, and try to catch bluegill while waiting. I may go to Seven Points again once more and try really really deep for bluegills.

Funny thing. Last Sunday, my suspended bait got close to the banks, so I tried to reel it back in to cast out further, but there was something unusually heavy on my line. At first, I thought I had hooked to the rocks, but I could still reel in little by little, so I knew it was not rock. Nothing was pulling my line, so I figured there's no fish on it, or probably a fish that did not want to fight :D. Finally when it appeared on surface, it was a big plastic serving tray, looked like it'd been under the water for a while - was black in color. I bet my line was not deep enough to hit the bottom of lake at Seven Points - could these things be moving under water and caught my hook? Reminds me of the 43lb buffalo that hooked it's fins when I was fishing at Seven Points with my trainer in 2010.

[BigDfromTennessee]

I haven't targeted bluegills since last fall but I have always had the best luck with live crickets on Priest. For artificial bait, small rooster tails or other brands like Joe's Flies work well too. As others have said, just after first light until it starts getting hot is the most productive time.

D

[vincent]

Looks like gills are back in action again near the banks. Took my 6 yr old and 9 yr old nephews from Phoenix for some action yesterday. They were so excited to get 6 gills each, before the afternoon rains came in and we had to leave.

My 6 yr old nephew woke up at 5 am today and asked me 'Are we going fishing today?' and said he wants to stay in Nashville for a million years. :D