Tackle

Small to medium bluegills are easily caught. But larger plate-sized specimens are very selective and difficult to hook. When they do, they are quite scrappy and will race in circles as you attempt to land them. So, special tactics and tackle are needed. Spinning tackle and fly-fishing tackle are fun ways to catch bluegill, but the jumbo members of the clan are taken more regularly on bait. Usually, "pro" bluegill anglers fish from bass boats equipped with quiet electric motors. The rods they use are stiff and the line heavy. A favorite bait is a medium-sized leech on a number 10 short-shank hook. Depending on depth of water, they may use a bobber—not the large bulbous type but the long pencil-thin variety which moves on the slightest tug. A few even use African Porcupine quills as floats in order to detect the take. These "pros" have learned through years of experience where to look for the so-called "hog." They move quietly to an open spot in the weeds and drop their bait.

There may be 100 holess but only a few hold big fish. Some avid fishermen don flippers, face mask, and snorkel and swim into these weedchoked waters. Moving slowly through the underwater pathways, they discover pockets of fish that should not be there. If you're not that anxious, carefully read the water for signs or structures.

Fishing tackle used to take bluegills and other pan fish should in general terms be lightweight and flexible. At the same time, the angler must be aware of having to haul the fish out of the weeds. Lightweight tackle can be cast all day and not wear out the fisherman. The rod must have sufficient power to bring the fish quickly to net. Accurate casting is essential when you want to put the lure or bait beside a floating lily pad. A stiff, heavy rod will not cast the lightweight lures or small baits with the same ease or accuracy.

A six-foot spinning or spincast rod designated lightweight or microweight by the manufacturer is ideal. This rod has sufficient length to keep line off intervening weeds and yet has the bend and flexibility to flip tiny lures to the fish. Long casts are not usually a necessity.

Many anglers who switch back and forth from fly rod to spinning to spincast forget to change tactics, particularly in rod handling. A lure cast with a spinning outfit is retrieved by turning the handle of the reel. One can vary the speed of the retrieve with a simple turn of the handle. At the same time, spin fishermen keep their rod at about a 45-degree angle and reef back on the rod when they get a strike. In contrast, when retrieving a fly, the rod is pointed at the approximate position of the fly. The line is brought in by the left hand and simply dropped at the angler's feet. If the fly rod is kept at a 45-degree angle during the retrieve, the weight of the line will cause the fly to drop back unnaturally as the angler pauses in the retrieve to pick up more line. With the rod pointed straight at the fly, a smooth simulation of the action of an insect is achieved.

The reel is the angler's choice. Choose one which can take five- or six-pound lines. The finer line casts further with small lures. Most anglers find that open-face spinning reels handle light lines and lures with few problems.

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