I'm new to big swimbaits. I ordered the Bluegill as I fish Southern ponds and small lakes where bluegills and Bass live side-by-side.

I'm going on a trip to some phosphate lakes(Bienville Plantation in White Springs, Florida) next Thursday in hopes of hookin' my first double-digit Bass. These are clear water lakes with a maximum depth of 20-25'. We will be on a guide's Bass boat for the day(Friday the 13th ;) ).

I tried the Bluegill out on a small lake near home yesterday for the first time. I noted that when you drop it off the side of the boat, it free-falls, nose-down until it hits the bottom. My question is; how do you fish this bait? It obviously is not a topwater and would have to be realed awfully fast to get it to stay near the top and 'swim'. Do you throw it out, let it fall, and then "yo-yo" it back to the boat? Do you reel it rapidly, letting it find the depth it wants? I am taking other Bass baits too, of course.

Here is their http://www.316lurecompany.com/baits/bluegill.html site and the bait if you're not familiar with it.

Thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.

Dan

Fish it like you would a spinnerbait. A steady retrieve. Try one cast burning it near the surface, and the next let it fall to 5-10 feet while slow cranking it in. Good luck.

Thers's no better explination than what Biggreen gave you. Just make sure you don't over power the bait with heavy line. I have found the bluegill to be a little finicky when fished on anything more than 15lb. line. To me it just loses to much action on 17 and 20lb test. And regaurdless of it having a treble hook, it fishes pretty good through cover. Good luck..................

Thanks guys:-) .

I do have it tied to 20# test Seaguar's Carbon Pro f/c. I have some 15# test too. I'll change it soon.

Dan

my persomal experince- medium to fast retrive around the banks over grassbeds works good for me. Also try throwing it deep, as it falls reel it just enough to kick. Let it hit bottom , it will stand uprite then crank it all the way back to the boat steady. try differnt speeds,they will slam it the first few cranks. send some pic's after you wax um.

You better believe I will post pics......if I catch one.

The guide has a 'rule'; you kiss the first Bass you catch while he takes a pic of you. His second 'rule' is; "If you make me bleed, you get out of the boat!" I suppose he got hit upside his head one too many times with a topwater or a crankbait--LOL!

Dan