re: Topwater Bluegill Fishing Advice

quote:

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They were blowing it up but I didn't hook any

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depends on the species of bream. But if pure bluegill they have very small mouths. green sunfish, redbreaseted, pumpkinseed, goggle-eye, and other hybrids usually have larger mouths.

If you are having troubles hooking up one of a couple things is wrong

fish are too small
you are trying to set hook too quickly
you are trying to set hook too hard
hook gap is too tight
line is pulling hook in wrong direction




so

find bigger fish, or trim the legs of your bream getter with scissors

wait until you see the line not the bait move to set the hook

set the hook with a gentle pull of the rod tip to the side 1-2 feet with an ultralight rod

slightly bend the hook gap open with needle nose

use only light test mono for topwater, flurocarbon line sinks and will mute the force of the hook set as well as misdirecting it.

Sorry for dragging up an old thread, but hopefully you'll forgive me. While looking for some handloading supplies, I lucked up on a stash I'd forgotten that has my two favorite flies for topwater bream fishing. My favorite is the Ligon Yellow Bream Guinny . #2 is the Ligon Black Bream Killer. Interestingly, both are made by AccardoTackle Co of Baton Rouge. Wal-Mart used to carry them, but stopped doing so some years ago.

I destroy them in Arky with a topwater cricket lure