Fly Lines
RIO Bass Fly Line
A short, aggressive head that turns over wind-resistant poppers and bass bugs.
Check PriceSpecies / Bluegill
Panfish
Bluegill Fishing
Bluegill and other sunfish (bream) are the classic first fish, nesting in shallow colonies in late spring and taking tiny poppers on the surface.
Best Months: May to Aug
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Plan by Month
Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Bluegill
Month
2 picks for October.
Crappie Jig 1/32 to 1/8 oz
LureJig
Shop This LureNightcrawlers Whole or half
BaitLive Bait
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Rod & Reel
Bluegill Setup
Bluegill
Fly 7.5 to 8 ft 3 or 4 wt rod, floating line, foam spiders and small poppers.
Spin / Cast 5 ft ultralight spinning rod, 1000 reel, 4 lb line with a small bobber.
The US
Where to Catch Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · California
Lake Casitas
Southern California reservoir with a strong catfish and largemouth population.
Largemouth Bass · Channel Catfish · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida
Lake Okeechobee
Shallow 730-square-mile lake known for trophy largemouth in the grass.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Florida
Rodman Reservoir
A stump-filled impoundment of the Ocklawaha River known for giant bass.
Largemouth Bass · Crappie · Bluegill
Rivers & Streams · Iowa
Mississippi River (Guttenberg)
Upper Mississippi backwaters and wing dams with walleye, sauger, and panfish.
Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Indiana
Lake Wawasee
Indiana's largest natural lake with weedy flats for largemouth and big bluegill.
Largemouth Bass · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Lake Minnetonka
A metro Minneapolis lake with bays and weed edges for bass and musky.
Largemouth Bass · Muskellunge · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Mississippi
Enid Lake
Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Yocona River ten miles south of Batesville. The world record white crappie came out of this water, and the summer pool holds crappie, largemouth bass, white bass, catfish and bream.
Crappie · Largemouth Bass · White Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Tennessee
Reelfoot Lake
An earthquake-formed cypress lake in northwest Tennessee with crappie and bluegill.
Crappie · Bluegill · Largemouth Bass
Recommended
Gear for Bluegill
Fly Rods
Echo Base Fly Rod Kit
An affordable starter kit with rod, reel, line, and case.
Check PriceRod & Reel Combos
Ugly Stik GX2 Ultralight Spinning Combo
Light enough to feel crappie bites and cast small spinners for trout.
Check PriceReels
Pflueger President Spinning Reel
Light and smooth for its price. A favorite for finesse and panfish rods.
Check PriceLine
Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament
Limp, easy-casting mono for spinning reels and general fishing.
Check PriceFlies
Bass Popper Assortment
Cork and foam poppers for summer topwater on the fly rod.
Check Price