What are the ideal bluegill colors for a skirt?

[hesjustbassin]

I've been playing around for a few weeks, and can't come up with a color combo that makes me happy, so I need your input.

[Mike Cork]

This is a tough one, and obviously it will be different for different parts of the country

Down here in Louisiana, a purple with brown and something gold or orange work well. Flakes of green and blue help accent

One of my best producing jigs around here is Purple, brown, and watermelon with blue in the purple and green in the brown. I like to think it represents a blue gill during late spring through the summer, at least that is when it works best for me.

[Swede]

Is this for SBs or jigs - not that it matters much I guess.  Catch a couple bluegill from the body of water you are fishing and copy is best answer I think I could give.  I am a lot of help - ain't I? 

[Warpath]

I really like a mix of blue and green, and I will use a jig trialer that is pumpkinseed and dip the tail in orange dip and dye.  I've used it fishing in standing timber with some success. 

Eric

[topcat]

In Oklahoma we use  chartreuse and blue.......hope this help.......

Topcat

[Basscat7]

I've been playing around for a few weeks, and can't come up with a color combo that makes me happy, so I need your input.

A mix of blue, green , and gold...with a few short strands of red/orange on the bottom.

[javelin225ho]

Is this for SBs or jigs - not that it matters much I guess.  Catch a couple bluegill from the body of water you are fishing and copy is best answer I think I could give.  I am a lot of help - ain't I? 

that's the answer i was gonna say....with the different strains of Bluegill around the country, i would catch a couple, see what is in the weeds, what is around docks, they will probablly be different colors......same with the craw's...see what color your craws are. the color of craws depends on alot of different variables...water ph, food avail,  type of rocks wether its big chunk rock or just sandstone and soil quality (PH), water temp and such, the best way is to catch a few in a minnow trap and try to match the hatch!

[BassBandit]

Hi this is my first post. Like the forum, neat!

Hope this will help some http://www.toledo-bend.com/toledo_bend/index.asp?request=fish2

Wonder which bluegill is most common in Arkansas reserviors?

[BassBandit]

Here's other good site.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.uaex.edu/wneal/Pond_Management/images/greensunfish.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.uaex.edu/wneal/Pond_Management/pages/fishid/fishid.html&h=286&w=423&sz=76&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=B6aScqtQp3Oa9M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=126&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgreen%2Bsunfish%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26rls%3DDVXA,DVXA:2005-30,DVXA:en%26sa%3DN

[GotstaFish]

Let me help you out with those links BassBandit

Pond Fish

Sunfish of Toledo Bend Lake & Sabine Parish Louisiana

[Bassonly]

I just had a man request that I make some different bluegill colored jigs for him. I wound up selling him some with a green pumpkin base color, a few strands of straight pumpkin, and a few strands of purple. It was a 40 strand skirt, and it actually did look like a 'gill when matched with the proper colored trailer. The man told me the same thing; go perch-jerking and take a look at the different colors.

[hesjustbassin]

Thanks for the help everyone. I've got a pattern that I like now. Glad that's over. 

[BassBandit]

Thanks GotstaFish, less hassle now so how do I convert it on the forum, hyperlink?

[GotstaFish]

Thanks GotstaFish, less hassle now so how do I convert it on the forum, hyperlink?

Yup 

[Mike Cork]

Gotstafish I think that was a question not a confirmations  

[Mike Cork]

Thanks for the help everyone. I've got a pattern that I like now. Glad that's over. 

Well? Whatcha decide on?

[GotstaFish]

Gotstafish I think that was a question not a confirmations  

He said hyperlink? I said Yup 

[hesjustbassin]

This is what I've decided on. It might require a little tweaking, but this is basically it.

[GotstaFish]

That looks awesome 

[Swede]

That does look good - if you start having some success on it - post the pics and get ready to make some for the rest of us

[skeeter jones]

Just some thoughts or questions.  Would the water temp cause the bluegill to be a lighter color when its cold.  Cold water bass tend to be pale. 

I read an article about when the perch(bluegill) were spawning and how the dominate male had a particular color and that there were some that were duplicators (in color)that slipped in to the beds to fertilize the eggs.  The other males did not have this same color.

I also believe that water color and cover color will play a big role in the color of prey. Nature has a way of camouflaging for protection.  Deep crawfish will be darker in color.  So think about light penetration at where you think the bass are holding at the seasonal pattern.

I like the way the jig looks in the picture.  I would use it in stained water, thinking the fish were at a depth of 10 -15 feet.  Good summer.  I think if it were cold water watermelon might be a good top color to give it a paler look.

A good rule is to add lighter colors like white, chartruse, yellow,and orange to the bottom because most fish have a white(lighter belly)

These are just my thoughts. I like these post because they get me to thinking about the different variables in lure selection.  Making your own skirts lets you customize to the conditions you have.

[GotstaFish]

Just some thoughts or questions.  Would the water temp cause the bluegill to be a lighter color when its cold.  Cold water bass tend to be pale. 

I think the cold water bass a pale because they are deeper, not because of the water temp. A bass that is up shallow for any length of time will be darker whether the water is cold or warm. JMO

[hesjustbassin]

I think the cold water bass a pale because they are deeper, not because of the water temp. A bass that is up shallow for any length of time will be darker whether the water is cold or warm. JMO

That is right on. They pale do to being deeper thus less sunlight. A bass' pigment works the same as ours in that they get darker with more sun exposure and vice versa (tan).

[Adam]

This is what I've decided on. It might require a little tweaking, but this is basically it.

That looks excellent.. I gotta have some of those