(This article contains affiliate links. Thanks for your ongoing support of the Share the Wild Collective!)

I like to call bluegill the bulldog of the farm pond. 

They’re a feisty and resilient little panfish that is perfect for the beginning angler whose patience has yet to be developed and the seasoned veteran who just wants to enjoy the action.

They’re easy to find as they are a staple in most pond ecosystems.

In terms of the bite, they will hit just about anything you dangle in front of them from bread to hot dogs, all the way to a top-water fly, which is actually one of my favorite new ways to catch them. 

I like to chase big bluegill and their cousin the red ear in the late spring and early summer, as they are ferociously defending their beds. Early morning or late evening is preferred. Laying a spider pattern fly or the famous “popper” over the top of their bed creates some incredible top water action, and from time to time, aerial acrobatics as the fish will thrust themselves from the bottom with amazing force and come out of the water entirely to strike. 

If you’re a brand spanking new fisherman, or if you have never fished for bluegill before, they are where the old imagery of a worm on a hook with a bobber about a foot above the hook originates. Worms and crickets are the live bait preference of these little beasts and the biggest challenge is keeping the little ones from stealing your bait too quickly for the bigger ones to snatch it up. 

When I’m fishing with the kids, I like to use a long shank #8 hook with a 1/16th oz split-shot 6-8 inches above and a peg or slip-style float adjusted according to water depth. If you’re not familiar with any of these numbers, just grab a good panfish kit to get started!

Beds are easy to spot, as they are about as big as a 10” pizza pan, and are often clustered up in gravel or sandy-bottomed areas. 

Bonus: Sometimes largemouth bass and catfish like to hunt these areas too, so don’t be surprised if something a little bigger than a bluegill tugs hard on your line!

Table Fare

One thing I don’t like to do is keep one or two bluegill. If I plan to eat them gutted and whole, I don’t mind, but my family prefers fish that have been filleted. That said, they need to be a sizable bluegill for a good filet. As big as your palm or bigger is preferred. If you’re looking to have a “mess of fish” don’t plan on three or four being a successful day. 

In my experience, 10-20 fish or whatever the limit in your area might be is much more worthwhile in both cleaning them and having enough to eat. 

For freshness’ sake, I like to utilize a keep net or floating basket to keep the fish alive during my fishing time rather than a stringer that will kill them more quickly. A bucket is fine too, but on hot days, water in a bucket on the bank heats up more quickly, depleting oxygen and killing the fish much faster than keeping them in the water I’m fishing in. 

In terms of food quality, bluegill is one of the best bites in the world of fried fish. It’s a small filet, so it gets very crispy and you’ll be shocked at how quickly it will disappear! Especially if you’re using it for something as satisfying as a fish taco. 

Have questions about bluegill fishing? Leave a comment!