BLUEGILL
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Fishing For Bluegill in Illinois.
Ounce for ounce many anglers consider the bluegill one of the sportiest
of game fishes. As a general rule, this species is fairly easy to
catch, puts up a scrappy fight if caught on a fly or ultra-light
road and is mighty fine eating.
(Spawning Time) As waters
warm to near 70F, bluegill spawning activities begin in lakes and
rivers. Adults can be observed by fishermen boating or walking along
shorelines while they make nests, spawn, and guard the nest and
young. Males react to invading live baits and jigs presented near
active nests by striking the bait. Once disturbed while on the nests,
bluegill only leave for a short time before returning to resume
spawning activities. Individuals not actively spawning can be found
resting in slightly deeper water near the spawning beds.
(Post spawning Time) Following
the conclusion of spawning activities, bluegill move to deeper water
(suspending above the thermocline from 10-18 feet deep) and in pockets
of aquatic vegetation or other structural features (wood or rocks)
to avoid predation by other fish. The orientation to water temperature
gradients and physical structure (aquatic habitat) provides the
key to fishermen looking to catch this taste fish. Live baits (such
as crickets, nightcrawlers, worms, grubs) and small artificial baits
(such as jigs with twister tails and safety blade spinners ie. Beatle
spins) are effective ways to fish the target areas for catching
slab bluegill.
BEST
BAITS: wax worms, red worms, red wigglers,
crickets, night crawlers, small minnows, and artificial flies
and poppers
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BEST
AREAS TO FISH:
Baldwin Lake - 2,018 acres
Beaver Dam Lake
- 57 acres
Borah Lake
Busse Lake - 590
acres
Fox
Chain O'Lakes - 7,110 acres
Crab Orchard Lake
- 6,965 acres
Dawson Lake - 158
acres
Devil's Kitchen -
810 acres.
Dutchman Lake
- 118 acres
Frank Holten Lakes
- 80 & 97 acres
Greenville New
City Lake - 775 acres
Hennepin Canal - 926 acres
Horseshoe Lake(Alexander)
- 1,890 acres
Lake Carlton -
77 acres
Lake Mingo - 170
acres
LaSalle Lake -2
2,035 acres
Lincoln Trail
Lake - 146 acres
Mazonia FWA- 576
acres
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McCullom Lake
- 245 acres
Mermet Lake - 452
acres
Mississippi
River - Pool 12, Frentress Lake
Mississippi
River - Pool 19
Mississippi
River - Burlington Island - 339.5 mi
Ramsey Lake - 56
acres
Red Hills Lake
- 40 acres
Rend Lake - 18,900
acres
Sam Dale Lake -
194 acres
Sam Parr Lake-
180 acres
Shabbona Lake
- 318 acres
Siloam Springs -
58 acres
Smithland
Pool/Ohio River - Tributaries
Sugar Creek
Lake - 96 acres
Tampier Lake -
160 acres
Walnut Point
Lake - 59 acres
Weldon Springs
Lake - 29.4 acres
Wolf Lake - 391 acres
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