Where is the best bluegill fishing in Michigan?


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Another sure bet is Thunder Lake, which has lots of good-sized bluegill along with excellent fishing for crappie and walleye. Some of the best bluegill fishing in the Upper Peninsula is in the Great Lakes, and Lake Michigan’s Big Bay De Noc and Little Bay De Noc are both outstanding.

Can you fly fish for bluegill?

Bluegill Tackle Bluegill are fun to hook on the same fly tackle you’d use for trout. In order to get the best sport from these 4- to 10-inch fish, I recommend using 1-, 2-, or 3-weight rods 7 to 8 feet long with medium or slow action, and light fly reels.

What is the best fly for bluegill?

  • #1 The Triangle Bug. Everyone loves the excitement of a fish taking a fly off the surface and I am no exception.
  • #2 Soft Hackles.
  • #3 Poppers.
  • #4 The Green-Eyed Damselfly Nymph.
  • #5 The Mop Dragon.
  • #6 The Wooly Worm.
  • #7 The Brim Killer.
  • #8 The James Wood Bucktail.

What month is best for bluegill fishing?

Spring and early summer is the best time to catch bluegills because they gather in the shallows to spawn, become very aggressive, and are easy to catch. Wade or boat within easy casting distance of the nests with a small lure or bait just below a small bobber.

How do you set up a bluegill fly rod?

YouTube video

What size fly rod for panfish?

Recommended fly rods for panfish fly fishing A 3- or 4-weight rod (or even lighter) not only makes every catch a little more challenging, it also helps with the presentation of small and delicate flies. Really, any good quality 5- or 6-weight rod works great for panfish, as bluegill and other small species.

What is the best artificial bait for bluegill?

  1. Grubs. A grub paired with a 1/64- to 1/8- ounce lead head jig is, without question, the single most productive bluegill lure.
  2. Spinnerbaits.
  3. Inline Spinners.
  4. Carolina Rigs.
  5. Spoons.

What is the limit for bluegill in Michigan?

Size limit: 14 inches.

What is the Michigan state record bluegill?

The current state record for a bluegill is 2 pounds 12 ounces, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Master Angler Program. Kemp’s fish will have to be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist before it can be officially listed as the new state record.

What time of day is best for bluegill fishing?

Bluegill are commonly found in water more than 10 feet deep in summer and typically hang just above the thermocline (the depth where water temperature changes dramatically and below which oxygen levels are usually low). Best fishing is usually in the morning and evening when the fish are most active.

What color lures do bluegill like?

Top colors for bluegill spinnerbaits include yellow, white, black, chartreuse, purple and brown.

What is a 4 wt fly rod good for?

The 4 wt fly rod performs superbly over longer casts and can be used to fish in big lakes and rivers. A medium-action fly rod, the Echo Carbon Nymph is designed with a customized reel seat made with carbon fiber.

What is a 3 weight fly rod good for?

The 3-weight rod is ideal for the tight quarters of small streams. Such a light rod is excellent for short casts that allow your fly to dance around obstacles crowding the water, and these rods are ideal for panfish and small trout.

What is considered a big bluegill?

They found that fish size increased on average a half-inch on maximum size and . 8 inch on mean size. That may not sound like much, but consider that a typical bluegill is six or seven inches, and a really large one is ten inches. Rypel published the findings in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management.

What is a 6 weight fly rod good for?

A 6-weight fly rod is the perfect size freshwater rod for casting streamers, dry flies and nymphs. It is the middle ground between lighter weight rods (3wt to 5wt) and heavier fly rods at 7wt and up. Six weights can be setup for every size trout, all sizes of bass and smaller salmon and steelhead.

How do you fly fish for panfish?

Fish these areas with nymphs, wets, and small streamers. Try popper/dropper combos or fish under an indicator to present your flies just above the vegetation. Try fishing floating dragonfly nymph on a long leader with a sinking line. The fly swimming just above the weeds is irresistible to big panfish.

How do you tie flies for panfish?

YouTube video

What size hook should you use for bluegill?

Best Size Long Shank Hooks For Bluegill The best sizes of long shank hooks are #6, #8, #10 or #12, with the smaller number actually being the larger of the hooks. Most often I use #6 or #8 hooks for bluegill.

How do you catch a lot of bluegill?

YouTube video

How deep do bluegills spawn?

Most nests can be found 1 to 4 feet deep, except in clear water where spawning beds might be as deep as 10 to 15 feet. On larger reservoirs, spawning bluegill can be found 2 to 7 feet deep in the backs of pockets along flatter banks.

Is fishing with corn illegal in Michigan?

Chumming, the practice of luring or attracting fish with bait mixes that can include corn, rice, noodles, fish eggs, or different types of meat, has been legal in Michigan for years.

Are bluegill bedding in Michigan?

Both of Michigan’s peninsulas–upper and lower–are known for their sport fishing. With an array of species to chose from, anglers from other areas of the country often plan extended fishing trips to the state for bass, walleye, pike and trout. Michigan, especially the Upper Peninsula, is also a hotbed for bluegills.

Is it illegal to fish with bluegill in Michigan?

Re: Bluegills For Bait Michigan says “Any fish legally caught may be used as bait” which means legal size also.

What’s the biggest fish ever caught in Lake Michigan?

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recorded the massive fish to have weighed a whopping 53.35 pounds, a state record that out beats the previous record recorded in 2014.

What’s the largest fish ever caught in Lake Michigan?

1. The biggest ever? The largest verified lake sturgeon on record was caught in Lake Michigan. It weighed 300 lbs.

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