Any good bluegill mimicking baits out there?

FishnJon · March 10, 2011, 06:15:29 PM

The lake I'm fishing now has forage mostly comprised as bluegills. I was wondering if you guys had any experience with baits the mimick the gills well, that's cheap (ish), durable, and catches fish. Thanks.

DanielR · March 10, 2011, 06:22:17 PM

Quote from: FishnJon on March 10, 2011, 06:15:29 PM
The lake I'm fishing now has forage mostly comprised as bluegills. I was wondering if you guys had any experience with baits the mimick the gills well, that's cheap (ish), durable, and catches fish. Thanks.

Well, if you don't want to pony up for some Mattlures Extreme Bluegill Swimbaits, you could always go with a crankbait.

Just got my KVD 1.5 and 2.5 in the mail today...and of course, they're the hottest crankbait on the market right now. The bluegill pattern looks great too.

willthebad · March 10, 2011, 07:23:30 PM

Zoom swimming fluke is a good alternative. Also a swim jig in a blue gill pattern is a good choice too. If you get a chance to take a look at your blue gill you could also fish a tube or senko in similar colors...of course traps and cranks are always fair game!

REDFISH · March 10, 2011, 08:29:38 PM

Live Target crankbaits makes a really good bluegill crankbait.

Pharticus · March 10, 2011, 09:04:25 PM

Are they true bluegills? Or are we talking sunfish, etc?

Team_Reeder20 · March 10, 2011, 09:18:42 PM

I have been buying the H2O cranks. Livetarget has an awesome bluegill and pumkinseed crank out.

scottydoesnt · March 10, 2011, 09:21:26 PM

+1 on the KVD square bill in Bluegill. Looks good. Not as good as my Deps Buzzjet Real Bluegill looks though . . . but you mentioned cheapish

lugnut · March 10, 2011, 09:37:15 PM

look at the third one down in this post. he sells them too

http://www.ultimatebass.com/bass-fishing-forum/index.php?topic=85250.0

Broskee · March 10, 2011, 09:38:26 PM

I got the KVD 1.5 and 2.5 in silent and rattle and love em... :D

Baltim0re28 · March 10, 2011, 09:42:27 PM

Yo-zuri hardcore drum bluegill

FishnJon · March 11, 2011, 06:35:24 AM

Quote from: Broskee on March 10, 2011, 09:38:26 PM
I got the KVD 1.5 and 2.5 in silent and rattle and love em... :D

I think I'll get a KVD, I don't fish enough cranks anyways. Should I get the rattle or silent?

-Shawn- · March 11, 2011, 06:37:41 AM

Quote from: FishnJon on March 11, 2011, 06:35:24 AM
I think I'll get a KVD, I don't fish enough cranks anyways. Should I get the rattle or silent?

What is your water clarity?

Scott E · March 11, 2011, 10:15:49 AM

I have a lot of bluegill colored products and I use them in late spring and summer; I have had a lot of success with them. I have the new KVD 1.5 Squarebill, I have some Bandit 100 & 200 series cranks, Ratl' Traps, Spro Baby Shad swimbaits in Killer Gill, and I even have some Jig Monster jigs in the Screamin' bluegill color (I had my personal best day ever fishing those jigs) with a V&M mudbug Flippin' Blu trailer. Bluegill in one of my go to colors.

elswagado · March 11, 2011, 10:30:47 AM

We've got a tiny little 2 acre tank that I fish at after work when I only have an hour or two, and it's loaded with bluegill. The water in it stays crystal clear, and it's so small and has been fished so many times that every fish in there stays spooked. The KVD Silent 1.5 in bluegill pattern has been the best lure I've ever used in that tank. After I took one out and had that kind of luck I went out and bought a bunch of 'em and repeated that success in other lakes where I'm in a situation with clear water & bluegill. Done well for me in tough conditions when others were struggling. Looking at some of the baits listed above, they look great as well.

Scott E · March 11, 2011, 11:17:21 AM

I forgot to mention in my first post that I just bought some IMA Squarebill cranks in bluegill. I can't wait to try them out along with the KVD's.

FishnJon · March 11, 2011, 01:31:59 PM

Quote from: -Shawn- on March 11, 2011, 06:37:41 AM
What is your water clarity?

In this particular lake the water is stained, but most bodies of water here are muddy.

Kuntry Jr. · March 11, 2011, 01:37:51 PM

The Skinny Bear SB5 Swimbait is a 5 inch hand poured line through swimbait and it's about 8 bucks. Probably the best on is the MattLures Ultimate Bluegill but it's 23 dollars.

coldfront · March 11, 2011, 02:58:20 PM

Quote from: FishnJon on March 10, 2011, 06:15:29 PM
The lake I'm fishing now has forage mostly comprised as bluegills. I was wondering if you guys had any experience with baits the mimick the gills well, that's cheap (ish), durable, and catches fish. Thanks.

yep...get yourself some tube baits...green pumpkin, black neon...I like STrike King's KVD 3.5" tube a lot...double-dpped, fat...

love pitching/flipping this into brush piles...and working it through...when it comes up to a branch...I like to shake it there...mimicking those smaller 'lunchable' sized bluegills picking food off the branch/algae...bass love to ambush them there...

something with a subtle purple fleck works wonders around here as a bluegill imitator...

bassbmx · March 11, 2011, 07:34:12 PM

Bluegill are the main forage on the lakes around me and 2/3 of my baits are designed to look like bluegill. I like cranks and watermelon candy soft plastics such as small worms, grubs, and senkos do a great job matching bluegill.

kidd · March 11, 2011, 07:39:55 PM

I've had a lot of success with Strike King Pure Poison in Bluegill color.

screwballl · March 14, 2011, 03:22:35 PM

Quote from: willthebad on March 10, 2011, 07:23:30 PM
Zoom swimming fluke is a good alternative. Also a swim jig in a blue gill pattern is a good choice too. If you get a chance to take a look at your blue gill you could also fish a tube or senko in similar colors...of course traps and cranks are always fair game!

I have taken some green flukes, and used the silver paint pens and sharpie black markers to alter their looks. Made some with stripes and silver bellies and they work really well in these ponds where bluegill are the primary forage.

bassindude · March 14, 2011, 06:53:03 PM

If the waater is stained youre probably worring way to much about color pattern. Try a Norman Thin N. It is shaped like a very small bluegill, and comes in several colors. Under 5 bucks, and has a very eratic action. Jim

maxg · March 16, 2011, 10:07:05 AM

Quote from: FishnJon on March 10, 2011, 06:15:29 PM
The lake I'm fishing now has forage mostly comprised as bluegills. I was wondering if you guys had any experience with baits the mimick the gills well, that's cheap (ish), durable, and catches fish. Thanks.

Molix Cursor Magnum and Molix Cursor Hard mimick the gills but are not yet sold in USA, you can try with some internet shop.

LURECOLLECTOR · March 16, 2011, 12:13:02 PM

go on ebay look for storm bluegill it will bring up. Wildeye Swim Shad Fishing Lures BLUEGILL color get them we have great luck with these lures very sharp hooks and great hookup you will need needle nose pliers to unhook the fish

Pharticus · March 16, 2011, 05:31:18 PM

Quote from: LURECOLLECTOR on March 16, 2011, 12:13:02 PM
go on ebay look for storm bluegill it will bring up. Wildeye Swim Shad Fishing Lures BLUEGILL color get them we have great luck with these lures very sharp hooks and great hookup you will need needle nose pliers to unhook the fish

This is why I asked if they were bluegill or sunfish. I bought the small sunfish version of these and can't believe the swim action of them! I haven't actually fished with them, so I can't vouch for their effectiveness... but after watching them work in the water, I can't tell you how excited I am to get busy with these.

link: Storm Lures Wildeye Sunfish

BTW: I found mine at Walmart.

Any good bluegill mimicking baits out there?

Baltim0re28