I like to use the bobber, worm, and circle hook to search for schools of bluegills, as it is so fast and effective.  I use the trolling motor to keep the boat moving along, 9′ spin rods, big bobber and big weight for long casts and retrieves, searching in a fan pattern fast along the drop off for a school.  Once located, I might catch a few with the circle hook and log the data, or pull the bait away on the bite so as not to hook the fish. 

Why do I do this?  Because sometimes I’m really trying to dial things in for the flyrod.  Remember, we’re hybrid anglers; sometimes spin, sometimes fly (thanks Dad, for teaching me both from the beginning).  As soon as I locate a school of suspended big bluegills, I get out the 2wt. flyrod with sinking nymphs and have a ball. 

As soon as the school moves, I pick up the spin rod with worm and circle hook and begin searching again.   Doesn’t take long to relocate them, then back to the flyrod.  Spin / Fly synergy… 1+1=3.

Bluegills are easy to catch in the fall.  For some reason, they like to suspend about 3 feet down over 10, 15, or 20 feet of water near weed edges.

There are several ways to catch them.  Bait fishers will do well with a small 1/32 oz. white jig tipped with a chunk of crawler below a bobber, or just a plain circle hook and crawler below a bobber.  Either way, you have to keep moving until you find a school.

 Fly folks can catch them with sinking nymphs (use #8 or larger, as they really inhale them this time of year) or small streamers.  Keep an eye on the shallows, 3 ft. or less, when the sun sets.  If you see rings, switch over to #12 adams dry and have fun catching big blues on a dry fly.

 Oh yea, be prepared to have the hair on the back of your head raised by a giant northern fish missile you have attracted by catching all those blues in the same place.  They like to strike your tired bluegill at the boat….