Bluegills at night.

[BassFeverJohn]

Hey y'all!

I just got home from a midnight run. I had some N'crawlers left from our trip south last week, and decided to try and snag some gills at night. I have used these before to get bluegills at night, but never this late. I had no luck letting them sit on the bottom, so I tried bumping them along texas style. This produced a few strong strikes, but I only managed to hook one.

I am wondering; Are there any better baits for getting them at night? I figure something florescent would be best, but I don't know of anything other than jigs for that purpose, and to be honest, I don't have much luck with those in the retention lakes I fish around here. I fish alone, so I don't feel safe going to far from home.

Is there a low cost bait that would work better?

[walkeraviator]

Same as Bass.... Black is the best color at night. at night, you really need a bright colored bobber and some way to see it... this keeps the lure or bait up off teh bottom... you need somethin that moves a lot, lets off sent, and maybe even rattles... have no idea what that might be....

[Bassboss]

Hmm.. what about a Crawler on a fluorescent jig head with a trailer hook? Also you can get these little snapper jigs. they're about 1/2 inch and work awesome for gills and small bass with a crawler on the back. Maybe a add some kinda blade to the mix too, to give it some vibration.

Hope this helps!

[bamabassman]

IF you can afford it. go check out some floating lights. put them out and fish around em. done this YEARS ago, and it always worked. worms, crickets and bobbers.

[walkeraviator]

Yeah Bluegills do congregate around lights at night... good thought bama....

[Cavs1123]

hmmm never knew that....

[screwballl]

we tend to do the best night fishing under full moon or floating lights.... but it also draws in catfish too so some of those strong strikes may have been catfish

[BassFeverJohn]

Originally Posted by screwballl

we tend to do the best night fishing under full moon or floating lights.... but it also draws in catfish too so some of those strong strikes may have been catfish

I could see that. I was using a #8 panfish hook, so that definitely wouldn't hold onto a big cat.

Incidentally, I helped a young boy who pulled in a 5# bullhead out of the lake near the same spot I was fishing that night.

[screwballl]

I have caught decent size catfish on size 10 and 12 hooks, mostly because once they suck the bait in, they clamp down, and when you pull on it, it set the hook, plus they stay clamped down until you pry their mouth open...

Thats why I prefer suspending the worm or bait for bluegills at night, keep them off the bottom (usually 1-3 feet) and better chance for bluegill to get it.