The will pull up shallow first in search of these key areas and will begin making their nest out of sand and gravel. Reproduction Cycles: Bluegills can spawn up to five times a year in Southern states. Early in the morning, when the air and water temperatures are still on the cool side it will be a subsurface game. As a female bluegill approaches the nest, the male will circle around and make grunting noises. This extended spawning season seems like it would result in a lot of offspring, but the smaller fish are unlikely to survive winter. Bluegill can live with other types of fish without issues. This set up would be a real challenge to cast on a 2wt fly rod! Fishing these locations from shore can be problematic for the shore based angler. (source: dwr.virgnia.gov)eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_0',111,'0','0'])); The young fish that make it will feed up on plankton, but as they grow their diet will change to insects and larvae. Pre-Spawn Season. Thus, Bluegills prefer to remain in shallow waters. (Sources: fisheries.tamu.edu). Bluegill spawning season is between May and August in their natural environment. They require no maintenance, and they float well enough to suspend a dropper off if you so desire. This typically occurs in the early spring all the way until the fall with the peak season being May and June. Here are some things to look for when searching for bluegill beds: The male bluegill is responsible for building the nest as well as guarding it until the eggs hatch and fry leave. A lot of folks like lighter rods for panfish, but I find that a 1 or 2 weight rod does not perform well on windy days or when tossing larger more wind resistant flies. #flytyingfriday #panfishonthefly #panfish #bluegillonthefly #bluegill #flyfishing #flytying #warmwaterflyfishing #warmwaterfly #flytyingjunkie #flytyingaddict #flytyingbench, Fish the Pre-spawn Season for Big Bluegills, ← The Hand Paddle - An Essential Piece of Equipment for the Kayak Angler. Cast as close to the bank as possible and work the fly back towards the boat. Then there is the occasional bass or pickerel to contend with. In temperate and southern waters, bluegills spawn throughout summer, peaking at intervals of about a month. During this time, know as pre-spawn season, the feeding habits of bluegill will make a drastic change. And this rowdy scene could actually have conservation implications. Even the darkest of fish will reveal a rainbow of colors if you take a close look at them. After the female bluegill chooses her mate, she joins him in the nest and they both circle each other. The flies I fish this time of year will always have a little splash of color. By: Joel Nelson If crappies kick off the spring season, then bluegill fishing certainly endcap it and extend the popularity of panfishing well into the summer months. Nests normally are created in less than 4 feet of water. I also lose quite a few flies to toothy pickerel patrolling the same shorelines. Spawning Temperature: 68-75 degrees. The perfect time to fish for Bluegill is in the early summer or spring. Though large fish will sometimes enter very shallow water I prefer a shoreline with a foot or two of water right up against the bank. There are only two methods I know of for finding Bluegill Beds; slow shoreline trolling and visually spotting these beds and by using a Fly Rod working down the shoreline. Big bluegill tend to also spawn deeper as well.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'tiltfishing_com-banner-1','ezslot_13',110,'0','0'])); The ideal spawning areas for bluegill will include water with good light penetration to incubate their eggs and areas that are protected from wind and current. When water temperatures reach the low 60's the fish will begin staging in the shallows in the same areas that they will ultimately create beds and start spawning once the water temperature approaches 70 degrees. As far as gear goes a 7 1/2 - 8 foot 3 weight fly rod is ideal. When bluegill spawn is dictated by water temperatures, light penetration, moon phases, and other varying conditions. Many anglers often don’t realize how many times bluegill will spawn in the same season. But, remember that all bluegills must move from one piece of water toward the shallow, 60-plus-degree water to propagate. One of the most important events of the year for bluegill and anglers targeting them is the spawn. In the springtime, bluegill will build beds, which the males will protect during the spawning season. My preferred way to fish this time of year is from a small boat, canoe or kayak. This is because bluegill begins to spawn at these times! This typically occurs in one to ten feet deep of water. On most days, if the sun is shining, you can expect the topwater bite to turn on by mid-day. When placed together with Koi, bluegill will act as cleaners that help control algae growth. The key to catching bluegills all year long is knowing where to find them.Here's a breakdown of the hows and whys of seasonal bluegill movement and location. The bluegill spawning season peak is typically May and June in most states (This is the best time to fish) Big bluegills typically spawn deeper Because bluegill are constantly on the move, its best to use baits and lures that will allow to cover water Bluegills are a popular panfish that can be caught with live bait (worms, maggots, crickets, grasshoppers) flies, crappie jigs, pieces of … Breeding Depending on where you live, bluegill spawning season occurs between April and September. In early spring, the water begins to warm and bluegills and other sunfish leave their deep water sanctuaries and head to the shallows. (source: in.gov)eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'tiltfishing_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',112,'0','0'])); The spawn can be one of the most exciting times of the year to be fishing for bluegill. When bluegills get this size it is easy to understand why they are called panfish! A kayak is the perfect watercraft for targeting early spring bluegills. At Tilt Fishing we do that by creating articles, videos, and helpful content that is dedicated to helping you improve as an angler and in turn enhance your fishing experience in the great outdoors. When bluegill fishing in the late summer, look for these fish to be down at least ten feet. This is by far one of the best times of the year to fish for bluegill and makes for some great angling opportunities. Decided to Head up to Mantua Utah to see if I could catch some Bluegill spawning on their beds! Males built nests in 1 to 4 feet of water along the shore, over diverse substrate materials, but sand and gravel are preferred. For dry flies, I prefer a fly that will float all day without cleaning or the application of a floatant. As explained in the July issue of Mississippi Sportsman, bluegill are fairly unique among most warm-water fishes in that they spawn throughout the summer. In general, the clearer the water the deeper they will spawn. In Wisconsin, the best times to catch bluegill is during the months of late May and June. In early spring, the water begins to warm and bluegills and other sunfish leave their deep water sanctuaries and head to the shallows. Spawning season begins in late May and doesnt end until August. Spawning season for bluegills starts late in May and extends into August. For several weeks before they start breeding they patrol shallow water feeding aggressively as they build up their energy stores for the rigors of the spawning season. This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.”, link to 20 Kayak Fishing Tips to Make You a Better Angler, Areas that have a good mix of sand and gravel, Live Bait (worms, grasshoppers, crickets), Bluegill will spawn when water temperatures reach 68 to 80 degrees, Bluegill spawn in shallow water from anywhere from a foot of the bank to 10ft deep depending on water clarity, The bluegill spawning season peak is typically May and June in most states (This is the best time to fish), Because bluegill are constantly on the move, its best to use baits and lures that will allow to cover water, Lunar phases (full and new moon) can play a big role on when bluegill spawn, Wear polarized fishing sunglasses to see light colored bluegill nests in shallow water, Male bluegill builds the nest and guard the fry, Bluegill become aggressive and territorial during the spawn and are easy to catch, Look for nests in shallow water around cover and structure. 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