This way, the bait will go down as slowly as possible. For channel catfish, using bluegill as cut bait is one of the best ways to catch them. Dog food. If you do not have the luxury of having live Bluegill as bait – the other recommended alternative is cut bait. Using Bluegill as your bait can be an extremely effective method for catching large Bass and Catfish. In fact, Manabu Kurita, a Japanese fisherman, used a live bluegill to catch the current world record largemouth bass a few years ago. An easy to follow guide to the best catfish baits for blues, channels and flatheads. You can also prepare the fish for cut bait pieces prior to fishing, so it is all ready to go for your next fishing excursion. This video explains how to catch more and bigger catfish. Bluegill is my favorite bait for catfish juggin. Bluegill bait really works! [36] Cut bait literally means that you are using a cut piece of a fish as bait. Let’s have a look at some of the key tips for learning how to use a Bluegill as live bait. 2. One of the best baits for large fish like catfish and bass is smaller fish like bluegill. Kentucky Snake Turd: 1 cup of water add 1 handful of mashed up dogfood, 3 cups of flour and 2 cups of water. Unfortunately, once a bread dough ball hits the water, it quickly disintegrates and is stolen. They are rather inexpensive and they are an effective bait to target Bluegill and other sunfish as well as catfish. Using a net is one standard method people will use to catch the live bait after locating an excellent spot to do so. Hook the midsection of the bluegill in the top center of the bait. Live Bluegill (sunfish) – Best catfish bait for ponds. Let’s look at some ways to find and catch more catfish and bluegills. Once you find a method that works, don’t try and re-invent the wheel. This also depends on your goal. Typically, larger pond catfish want nothing more to do with fresh bait. However, if you add giant bluegill addicted to the tail, placed 1.5 meters under a bobber, these big catfish will rise from the ground to explore. Today, you’ll learn some tips on how to use bluegill as live bait in different ways. For more information, see disclosure here. Catfish: weiner chunks, cheese, chicken livers, nightcrawlers, redworms, piece of fried chicken, dead mouse, blood doughballs, and anything you can imagine nasty. To help you out, we’ve broken down a buying guide so you know what features you need to look for in catfish bait. This is how I hook live bluegills, sunfish, and gizzard shad for large Flathead and blue catfish. It smells garlicky, attracts catfish from long distances and can be stored in the refrigerator for months. i had a bluegill as bait. In this way, your chances of getting a good catch drastically improve. I salt them down to preserve them. They can tolerate less-than-ideal water conditions and oxygen-levels that would do-in more sensitive species shad, minnows, and trout. This video explains everything you need to know about fishing for catfish with bluegill and how to catch catfish with bluegill. The reason for this technique is that you do not want the Bluegill to feel any resistance as they pick up the bait. It is, however, more common to use live bait and bluegill for large blue catfish and large flathead catfish. Thanks again. 2. Portable Bait Traps Fishing Nets Foldable - Easy Use Hand Casting Bait Traps Cage Baits Cast Mesh Trap for Fishes, Shrimp, Minnow, Crayfish, Crab, Crawdad 3.4 out of 5 stars 403 $12.99 $ 12 . Top Choices on the Best Bait for Bluegill. You should, however, remember that a small portion of live cut bait still stands a strong chance at getting picked up by trophy size catfish. This will depend a little bit on the kind of fish you plan on using for your live bait. Depending on where you’re located, some state DNR’s won’t allow for live bait use. Even if you decide not to fish with bluegill, I assure you, they are eating plenty of bluegills anyways. Either way shouldn’t take you long to get results. If you’re just looking for the babies, a small piece will do just fine. There is nothing super flashy or fancy about the process or terminology involved. This is my favorite homemade catfish bait. Wrapping Things Up – Do You Feel Prepared To Use Bluegill for Catfish Bait? I prefer to fish a live bluegill suspended under a slip bobber, but you can also fish a bluegill hooked in this manner on the bottom ( dead line ). Catfish, especially when they reach a larger size, are natural predators of the water. It’s one of the best catfish baits you can use. While bluegills are known to eat just about any bait they can fit in their mouths, wadded-up bread dough is one of the most popular of baits. Placing the hook just below the upper fin helps keep a large catfish from ripping the bluegill off the hook. Bluegill Bait Buying Guide. This can be problematic in areas that have healthy populations of bluegill, bass, bullhead, carp, drum, turtles, etc. Posted by Big Paul at 6:42 AM Catfish can easily smell the scent of blood. Some of the biggest Blue Catfish and large Channel Catfish are usually caught with cut bait. Please check the local fishing regulations in your area to confirm if this bait is allowed. This will provide you with two pieces of bait. This is a bait you can simply “dip” any deep water lure you are using in ad use as an attractant. Unfortunately, Bluegill falls into this category for several states. I think that's my missing link. Flatheads tend to opt for the live bait only, but cut bait is also a viable option to catch a flathead. There is a need for you to understand which type of bait and lures to use in different fishing situations. The bluegill itself is also occasionally used as bait for larger game fish species, such as blue catfish, flathead catfish and largemouth bass. Whether served plain, with chili and cheese, or ketchup and mustard, Americans have enjoyed them for a very long time. A guy on another forum mentioned using them as live bait. View … Some say that this method works better in ponds compared to lakes. It’s safe to say that fishing line is important. So, if the lake or river you are fishing has a large population of bluegill then cut bluegill will probably be your best bet to use as bait for blue catfish. One such piece of live bait that has proven to be effective at catching species like bass and catfish is bluegill. Options two requires a little more work but typically works out to be a tad more fun. Test different sizes and techniques when using bluegill for catfish bait. TOP 9 Best Catfish Rods and Reels in 2020 | Buying Guide with Reviews & FAQs. Bluegill and other small fish are what catfish naturally gobble up beneath the water surface. Disclaimer: Bob has spend most of his childhood fishing with his father and now share all his knowledge with other anglers. Other baits can work well including stink baits, but for sheer quantity and quality of catfish, nothing beats natural bait, and during the summer months, my money is on bluegills. Hard baits are exceptionally popular for bluegill fishing, and there are plenty of beautiful specimens that bluegills and other panfish love. Unfortunately, once a bread dough ball hits the water, it quickly disintegrates and is stolen. Always remember to use the proper fishing rod when using bluegill for catfish bait. This is because the preferences of this fish can sometimes change. You will want to hook the Bluegill in a way that keeps the fish swimming for a longer period of time. A #6 hooks should suffice, as should ultralight tackle and no more than 6-pound test line. The best option for having your bluegill bait resemble its natural swimming motion is to hook the fish through the body directly in front of the tail. The reason that using live Bluegill as bait can be illegal if because of the risk of bringing an unwanted species into a new environment. This bait recipe requires only two ingredients: Wheaties cereal and fresh (not frozen) chicken livers. We will dive into this later in the post, but it’s important to understand the laws and regulations to avoid issues with DNR. They are the main tool of our craft, so we’ll want the best we can... TOP 9 Best Fishing Lines for Catfish | 2020 Reviews & FAQs. It almost always seems to work out that if the Bass are biting, you could receive a bit in just under 10 minutes with a live Bluegill fish as your bait. Off the water, he enjoys blogging and sharing his favorite fishing tips & tricks that he has learned over the years. Stink Bait. Bluegill and other sunfish are awesome baits for catching catfish. As we discussed earlier, catfish will feed on dead and rotting fish and animals … The larger the fish you want to reel in, the larger the cut bait or chunk of fish you want to place on your hook. The live Bluegill tends to cover more area within the water when they are hooked this way.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'catchandfillet_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',114,'0','0'])); When fishing for Bass, It is recommended to hook the Bluegill right behind the dorsal fin. Experienced anglers will also … As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. No need to rub your eyes, or check your glasses. See you next time. Don’t fix what’s not broken is a good old-fashioned motto to go by when using bluegill for catfish bait. It’s one of the best catfish baits you can use. Disclosure: At BonfireBob, we recommend products based on unbiased research, however, BonfireBob.com is reader-supported and as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases if you shop through the links on this page. Other sunfish like pumpkinseeds and green sunfish can be great too. If your planning on catching your own live bait, just be prepared for the process to take a bit longer and remember to plan your live bait size accordingly with what your goal/target size catfish lines up with. One of the best baits for large fish like catfish and bass is smaller fish like bluegill. Using bluegill for catfish bait is simple and effective. It does require a bit of extra legwork to be ready for action when using the bluegill for catfish bait but nothing that can’t be explained and accomplished. He got a $500 fine because you cant use game fish as bait in NC. Be warned, though, just about everything that swims eats worms. BIRD-N-BUCK, Ttexastom, Gindog, Skippa Chippa, kdk LIKED above post SpeckledSlab, BigDawgg thanked you for this post 05-18-2018, 11:18 PM #2. This is going to work just like any other bait methods you have used in the past. I was aware about dog … That way, no matter where you are, or your current circumstance, you know how to obtain a solid bluegill bait for your fishing trip.. I’ll discuss all of the best options that I have tried, and tell you why you might, or might not, want to use each one. September 30, 2016 at 4:23 am. Bluegill works well for Catfish because of the distinct smell of the fish. For new catfishing videos each weeks subscribe to the Catfish & Carp YouTube channel. The midsection works well for attracting catfish because it contains internal organs and is full of blood. There are countless catfish baits out there, making it difficult for fishermen to choose the right one. Check on the condition of your bait periodicly, and replace it if it is dead. Absolutely. Once this is complete, you can remove the fins of the fish and move onto slicing up the meat into your desired chunk sizes. They are a pan fish, and usually don't get much heavier than a pound. Give the baits a try. We recommend hooking through the bottom lip first and come out through the top lip. Here's how I do it. The downside to this method is that the bluegill tends to fish towards the surface of the water. Artificial Bluegill Lures have been quite successful from our different fishing experiences. A filet knife and your fingers are all you’re going to need in most circumstances. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. What works best might always be up for debate, but I say what works best for you is what's most important. I appreciate you. If necessary, you can use your thumbs to help get them to fall off. Bluegill fish from the pond you want to … Some recommended products may use affiliate links. A decent rod and reel are the backbone of any decent fishing setup, especially when fishing for powerful species, like catfish! For the meantime, you have two choices: the natural bait and the artificial lures.Each of them has variety of size, color, and type. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'catchandfillet_com-box-3','ezslot_6',109,'0','0']));The two most important elements when fishing with live Bluegill as bait is that the fish is able to remain alive for a long period of time and that it closely resembles the natural swimming motion of a Bluegill. Fish and Wildlife Service, a Bluegill is one of the most popular sport fish in the United States. Also, you will also want the lure to closely resemble the typical swimming motion of a Bluegill. First, you can just purchase cut bait at many bait shops. It’s going to be a pretty decent size catfish you have the potential of hooking into and now isn’t the time to skimp on your rod/reel and other fishing gear. Some of the biggest Blue Catfish and large Channel Catfish are usually caught with cut bait. Crickets - my favorite bluegill bait. Using Bluegill. Just like pikes, they will eat any bait that an angler will offer. Bluegills are one of the hardiest catfish baits around. Andrea Harrison says. You will want to use smaller size baits since these fish have tiny mouths and small hooks. Using Other Bait Use insects and small fish as bait. I hit me that I only fish for bluegill with live bait. This will provide you with two pieces of bait. Hook the head one-third of the way down the head, starting from the mouth. It may be a good starting point for the beginners, but if you are ready to learn how to use the bluegill and feel you have a strong foundation in place, then this is the place for you. Small bluegill are the perfect size for channel catfish and they can be used as either live bait or cut bait. You just won’t see the same success for flathead catfish with cut bait as you will live bait. His favorite fish to catch is a striped bass and his favorite bait to use is bunker. While bluegills are known to eat just about any bait they can fit in their mouths, wadded-up bread dough is one of the most popular of baits. You can catch it yourself. One warm summer morning, somewhere amid the daily Tom Sawyer-meets-Indiana Jones adventures of my youth, I spotted a bunch of bluegill darting in and out of the shadows of a floating dock. But the truth of it is these factors are extremely important for ice fishing success. Using artificial Bluegill lures or fake Bluegills can be an ideal way to counter strict state laws. Hook the head one-third of the way down the head, starting from the mouth. Catfishing success is highly dependent on choosing the right kind of bait. link to TOP 9 Best Catfish Rods and Reels in [year] | Buying Guide with Reviews & FAQs, link to TOP 9 Best Fishing Lines for Catfish | [year] Reviews & FAQs. BIRD-N-BUCK, Ttexastom, Gindog, Skippa Chippa, kdk LIKED above post SpeckledSlab, BigDawgg thanked you for this post 05-18-2018, 11:18 PM #2. Before shopping for baits, it is important that you consider the nature of bluegills. We receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Using bluegill for catfish bait can certainly increase the odds of catching the bigger catfishing strolling beneath the water surface.Is it worth using? A few good live baits to consider using include worms, crickets, and grasshoppers. If you happen to catch live Bluegill and know that you won’t be fishing anytime soon to utilize them as live bait, freeze the fish to use later for cut bait. Catfish dip baits are usually in a liquid or paste form. Using bluegill for catfish bait can certainly increase the odds of catching the bigger catfishing strolling beneath the water surface.Is it worth using? Also known as bream, brim, or perch, these freshwater fish have spines running along the top of their dorsal fin. If your using chunks, your goal is just hooking the live bait in a fashion that allows it to remain on the hook. So, it needs to be good. You don’t need anything too large to attract the trophy-size blue catfish or even flatheads and channels. [Tweet “The oilier the fish is the better catfish bait it will be.”] How To Prepare Cut Bait For Catfish. Be sure to leave a comment below. Using Bluegill. Understand the laws in your area to avoid having any conflict with the authorities. Catfish prefer their meals bloody, so this technique will help to attract the big ones. This pulling motion forces the Bluegill to swim sideways, which makes the fish appear injured to a hungry bass in the area. Catfish love eating bluegill. For big channel catfish I like to use cut shad or live bluegill. The cereal serves as a binder that gives the bait the proper consistency. Thus, you should go for a lightweight rod, as well as a lighter fishing line. The main idea is that the Bluegill stays alive while on a hook. Bluegills are freshwater fish that are prevalent across North America. We are a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Bluegill is my favorite bait for catfish juggin. Feel free to leave a comment below. It doesn’t matter if other food sources are available, bluegill and smaller fish have a natural appeal to catfish, and they have that natural attack mode in them. Is it worth using? Cut Bluegill for Bait. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'catchandfillet_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',119,'0','0'])); Many states outlaw the use of sport fish as a method for bait. Example: My brother lives in North Carolina and got caught using live bluegill. Bluegill for Big Catfish 1. Catching Bluegill To Use As Bait. A good catfish dip bait should have a strong smell and stay on your lures for a while. Using bluegill for catfish bait can certainly increase the odds of catching the bigger catfishing strolling beneath the water surface. … When a big catfish takes the bait allow it time to "swallow" the bait before setting the hook. I said a fisherman's Bream. From small fish to large fish, this lure can work effectively. The head is one of the most desired pieces of the live bait you can cast out. However, we have seen live Bluegills work well as bait for catching large Bass in both locations. The recommended length for using Bluegill as bait is anything smaller than 6 inches (preferably 3-4 inches long). For the best results, try to use bluegill that are small enough in order to appeal to most fish. That leads us straight into the next question. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to subscribe to my email newsletter for the latest how-to guides and recommended gear for successful catfishing. As simple as it sounds, this bait is just a piece of the whole fish cut up. Cut bait is a very popular catfish bait and widely considered to be one of the best catfish baits available for blue catfish and larger channel catfish. Consider Live Baits for Bluegill A few good live baits to consider using include worms, crickets, and grasshoppers. Yep, you read it right. Bluegill baits are worms, crickets, leeches, wasp larvae (be careful, but its bluegill crack), beetle spins and grubs. Having these baits on hand will land you more fish if you are after Bluegill or any other panfish. You have a few options on where you get the live or cut bait for catfishing. According to the U.S. To keep things simple and easy, it’s recommended to just always chunk the meat once you have it prepared properly. Not every bluegill bait is available to us at all times, so it’s helpful to know a little bit about all the best options. The best bait for big blue catfish is fresh-caught shad that is cut in half. We recommended hooking the bluegill in the back side of its body as it allows for the fish to swim downwards which makes it look more appealing to a predatory fish. You have several options, but these are the most common you will frequently see. To make it you need six to eight hot dogs (the cheapest brands work best), 1 package of unsweetened strawberry Kool-Aid (other "red" flavors work but not as well in my experience) and at least 2 to 3 tablespoons of minced garlic. The first step in getting your live bait ready to go is determining which size and kind of catfish you are targeting. We will cover the ins and outs and pros and cons of using bluegill for catfish bait in this post and provide you with some of my top tips and recommendations for using the bluegill effectively and efficiently. If you’re going after bluegill you need to make sure they will actually bite whatever you put in the water for them. From minnows and other baitfish to flies and insects, hard bait lures mimic many of a bluegills favorite foods, and they’re difficult to resist. Not only a staple on trendy farm-to-table menus (in mousse form, served with dainty … CatchandFillet.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Oct 22, 2018 - Explore Herbert Waldron (20)'s board "fish-bluegills-baits", followed by 434 people on Pinterest. Before using any fish for bait you should check the legality of it in the area you’re fishing. As you cut the fish, the gills and head of the Bluegill are some of the most attractive pieces because Catfish focus in on the blood of the Bluegill. The best option for keeping your bluegill bait alive for a long period of time is to hook the fish through the lips. Perch/Bluegill/Sunfish; In most instances the oilier the fish is the better bait it will be. test spiderwire. Worms such as pan fish worms, night crawlers, and wax worms are good choices for live bait Bluegill fishing. Do not worry if you think that your 3-5 inch Bluegill may be too big as you would honestly be shocked at the size of Bass that would still take the bait. The bluegill itself is also occasionally used as bait for larger game fish species, such as blue catfish, flathead catfish and largemouth bass. You can find a link below which we feel is the best artificial bluegill lure, available on Amazon. Abu65. Ill-equipped, yet ever game for a challenge, I dashed home to fetch my trusty Zebco 202 and the humble bag of loose hooks and split shots comprising my first tackle box. On catfishing trips like this, leaving a few hours early allows some time with a flyrod and popping bug — which is fun in itself, though the overall goal is to fill a cooler with 25 to 40 bluegill. To optimize your bluegill bounty, reel your line in slow and steady, and as soon as you feel a bluegill biting, raise the tip of your rod so set the hook and capture your fish. Logging For Flatheads. You can also just merely fish for bluegill with a simple rod and reel, small hook and nightcrawlers. Using bluegill for catfish bait is simple and effective. Live Bluegill (sunfish) – Best catfish bait for ponds. Typically, larger pond catfish want nothing more to do with fresh bait. As you cut the fish, the gills and head of the Bluegill are some of the most attractive pieces because Catfish focus in on the blood of the Bluegill. I catch plenty of bluegill, but I've always been using them as cutbait, frozen cut bait at that. Catfishing tips for catching catfish on a lake using live bait. They are quite willing to eat all sorts of bait offered by fishermen. Bream, in their natural habitat, are likely to feed on all sorts of smaller creatures. I usually opt for bait hooks when targeting smaller catfish, because I’m not concerned if a fish that I plan on eating swallows the hook. Trial and error is a great method. This holds especially true when targeting large blue catfish and flathead catfish. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc or its affiliates. One such piece of live bait that has proven to be effective at catching species like bass and catfish is bluegill. Jan 18, 2017 - How to Make Bluegill Bait. Catching a large number of these smaller fish could take a long time with a pole and hook, not to mention the risk of damaging or killing the fish when removing the hook from its … Rose Kuli Multi Jointed Bait is a favorite bluegill bait. There are some small key elements to consider in order to maximize your live bluegill bait and produce a worthy catch. Crickets are widely considered to be the most effective bait for … Using cut bait as a method for bait is great because it can be easily purchased in a typical tackle & bait shop, or can even be caught on your own. For that reason, it’s my … Live shad and bluegills can be effective baits for large blue cats but since their mouths are small relative to their body-size, focus on smaller-sized baitfish. 99 SUKI Gizzard Catfish Bait – 1 Gallon. ... I’ll definitely have to try catching some bluegills for bait. It’s your only link with the fish. How do we catch cut bait or live bluegill for catfishing? If your planning on using the full live bait, smaller bluegill will be preferable. Without any true predators, the fish can live freely utilizing the resources needed for other species, which can cause great economic harm. Crickets and grasshoppers are a great bait to … As effective method for luring Bass to your bait is to pull the line when the Bluegill is hooked. A #6 hooks should suffice, as should ultralight tackle and no more than 6-pound test line. Follow the steps if you plan on cutting and chunking your live bait for increased success. In fact, Manabu Kurita, a Japanese fisherman, used a live bluegill to catch the current world record largemouth bass a few years ago. This holds especially true when targeting large blue catfish and flathead catfish. Consider Live Baits for Bluegill. Merely take the filet knife and begin knocking off the scale on the fish. You will want to use smaller size baits since these fish have tiny mouths and small hooks. Cut the head off of the bluegill. The key with any kind of fish is to use something similar to what they are already eating. The filets typically won’t stay on the hook very well and don’t have any real added value to the bait. How to Make Bluegill Bait. Contact Me | About Bob Hoffmann | Affiliate Disclosure | Privacy Policy. Cut the head off of the bluegill. Live bait works great but lures are also effective if you fish them properly. If he gets caught doing it again, the fine goes up to $800 and his license gets taken away for 3 months. Here's how I do it. Live bluegill is going to be much more appealing to the monsters of the water and your gigantic blue catfish and monster flathead catfish. Typically, the numerous varieties of bluegill and minnows contain the most significant part of a pond catfish’s diet plan. Cricket… A bluegill is not choosy. I just don't catch anything on cold, frozen cutbaits. Catfish Dip Baits. Really any flathead, channel or blue catfish over 10-15lb, you can see success with live bait. Two hook rigs also work well for larger live baits. How to Use Live Bluegill as Bait for Big Bass, Best Saltwater Spinning Reels for Under $100. My favorite flathead catfish baits are bream ... the resivoir upstream. However this can be acceptable if you are fishing for Catfish or Bass near the top of the water. It’s one of the best catfish baits you can use. Absolutely. Preparing the Bait, You Still Need to De-Scale and Prepare Your Live Bait, Don’t ignore the Head and Beady Eye Balls, Pay attention to DNR Laws Before Using Live Bait.