Fisher
02-23-2011, 11:36 AM
I'm from the Imperial Valley, and as I've posted before-I've caught some great Crappie and nice bluegill. I just wanted to know if anybody wanted to share some tips on catching some big gills and Crappie. I like the canals, Sunbeam lake and Lagoon, Weist Lake, and Kate's Lake.
I like using the Banjo Minnow for Bass and Crappie, but for Bluegill I need to go with either just a piece of a nightcrawler with a #6 hook...8 may be one size to small. The Bluegill were hitting hard this past late November and December at WEist Lake...TOO many people were were catching them, but there's still REALLY big Crappie there.
Besides using the good 'ol crawler, I like the 1/32 spinner bait-either skirted tube grub or twirly-tailed grub with a tiny piece of nightcrawler on the hook. I've hooked quite a few Crappie with this....WITH a tube-shaped bobber 3-3 1/2 feet above it. This works great because it keeps you from trying to works those little things slowly-not a whole lot of action on them if not moved very quickly. I let it rest, then jerk it. Go as fast or slow as needed.
I've caught even very small Bluegill with this. I was surprised when I was catching tinys.
So I've heard that the canals have the bigger Bluegill and probably Crappie too...right...well share your stories of big bluegill and gills around the Imperial Valley. I want in on tips.
About 5 years ago, a friend and I were fishing the canals. He was going for Cats while I was using the banjo catching a couple of bass. It was along Austin Road at a drop. He had a good bite....reeeled it in...turned out to be a giant Bluegill Very dark and a little over a pound. I was shocked of how big this Blue was because up to that point, I hadn't see anything like that before.
I like using the Banjo Minnow for Bass and Crappie, but for Bluegill I need to go with either just a piece of a nightcrawler with a #6 hook...8 may be one size to small. The Bluegill were hitting hard this past late November and December at WEist Lake...TOO many people were were catching them, but there's still REALLY big Crappie there.
Besides using the good 'ol crawler, I like the 1/32 spinner bait-either skirted tube grub or twirly-tailed grub with a tiny piece of nightcrawler on the hook. I've hooked quite a few Crappie with this....WITH a tube-shaped bobber 3-3 1/2 feet above it. This works great because it keeps you from trying to works those little things slowly-not a whole lot of action on them if not moved very quickly. I let it rest, then jerk it. Go as fast or slow as needed.
I've caught even very small Bluegill with this. I was surprised when I was catching tinys.
So I've heard that the canals have the bigger Bluegill and probably Crappie too...right...well share your stories of big bluegill and gills around the Imperial Valley. I want in on tips.
About 5 years ago, a friend and I were fishing the canals. He was going for Cats while I was using the banjo catching a couple of bass. It was along Austin Road at a drop. He had a good bite....reeeled it in...turned out to be a giant Bluegill Very dark and a little over a pound. I was shocked of how big this Blue was because up to that point, I hadn't see anything like that before.