By TIM HUFFMAN

Bluegills are fun to catch. They are cooperative biters and their pound-for-pound fight is ferocious. It would be difficult to find a more perfect warm weather fish to pursue for fun, fast action and great table fare.

The Outdoor Guide region is a paradise for bluegill chasers. You may already know a good place near you. If not, your local fisheries biologist can lead you to a spot where big bluegill numbers are high.

Baits

Artificial baits have advantages. You can buy them ahead of time and they cost less in the long run unless you lose a lot of baits. Artificial baits are not messy and don't have to be changed after every bite. Selecting a bait can be fun with choices including weight, size, shape and color.

Tube jigs in 3/4 or 1-inch length are economical and easy to find. They are good for most techniques including jigging or casting. Work the bait slowly and set the hook quickly when you get a bite.

A trip with Kentucky Lake guide, Gary Mason, will likely have you throwing a 1-inch Charlie Brewer Slider Grub. He says that redear are especially fond of the small plastic jig. He targets rocky points. A steady, slow retrieve with pauses is a simple yet deadly tactic.

Funny shapes and sizes make your choices unlimited. You can find spiders, crawlers, worms, crawfish, centipedes and bugs. Whether realistic or oddball shaped, they can be a fun change of pace and also produce good catches.

Experience teaches that it is best to stick with one or two bait shapes and three to five colors. Otherwise, you'll have bags and boxes full of baits you'll never use. Pick colors that include black/brown, blue/chartreuse and clear sparkle.

Lightweight baits catch more fish. A bluegill often sucks the bait into his mouth and if it's too heavy it won't come to him. Or, he may feel the weight of the jig and spit it out. Stick with jig weights of 1/64, 1/80 and 1/100-ounce if conditions allow. Wind or deep water will force you to include a small split-shot above the jig.

Open water with few stickups lets you catch good bluegill on tiny crankbaits. There are several brands and models to select.

“When a fish hits a crankbait it's usually a nice one,” said Jeff Samsel, public relations specialist for Rebel lures. “Rebel has a series of small baits that work great in streams, ponds and lakes because they imitate natural food. They can be cranked at a slow speed making them easy to use.”

Light 1/64, 1/80 or 1/100-ounce feather jigs, like Grizzly jigs, have the appearance of a real insect falling in the water. The slow fall and natural look makes them deadly. Also, feathers collapse when wet giving them a look that no other bait can produce. Black with a white head and red thread wrap is a top color pick.

Spinnerbaits with flash can sometimes attract more bites. Choose small baits and use them in open water areas. Small Road Runners are excellent baits as well.

Techniques

Techniques are usually matched to the type water you're fishing. Water depths, cover and water clarity are your main concerns when selecting a tactic. Jigging, flipping and casting are all good methods. Jigging and flipping poles are usually 9 to 12 feet long while casting rods are 5.5 to 7 feet.

Jigging allows you to get into thicker cover with fewer hang-ups. Holes in weeds, grass and lily pads are good choices. Trees, snags and stumps are also good. You'll get bites on the fall or after holding the bait still for several seconds.

Flipping gives you an active presentation. Top spots for flipping include grass, bridge pilings, edges of docks and submerged weedlines. Start by flipping or pitching your bait past the target area. Let it pendulum back to you in a slow arc. Watch your line for slack, tics or other indications of a strike.

Casting with a freefall jig lets you control your bait depth, speed and action. It's good for open areas including rocky points, bridge pilings and riprap. A slow, steady retrieve with an occasional pause usually produces fish.

Crankbaits and spinners are also open water baits that need a slow, steady retrieve. Be sure to cast past an active area and bring your bait directly through the strike zone.

Other Tips

Artificial baits need a scent attractant. Yum, Berkley Crappie Nibbles and Kodiak Minnow Paste are easy-to-use scents. Oddball bass and catfish attractants can also be good for bluegill.

Use a sensitive graphite pole. Bites can be bone-jarring or the slightest tap. Graphite lets you feel more bites and the lightweight is less tiring to hold.

Have your drag set correctly in case a big bass or catfish hits your offering.

Experienced fishermen should use 4-pound test line because it will spook fewer fish and have better bait action. Switch to 6-pound test if you're fishing only thick cover.

Editor's Note: You can get a copy of Tim Huffman's new video, “Grizzly Fishing for Crappie and Bluegill' hosted by he and Louie Mansfield. It features ultralight, long pole fishing and was filmed on Reelfoot Lake. DVD-R. Send $15.95 to: Huffman Publishing, PO Box 26, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902.