Bluegill and panfish are a huge part of a bass’ diet. Whether you fish small ponds or huge lakes, knowing how to imitate bluegill will help you catch bigger bass in Spring. While visiting his childhood fishery, Tim was inspired to shoot this quick video about applying Bluegill swimbaits to your Spring bass fishing.
The bluegill swimbait category has exploded in recent years. Where we used to talk about one or two baits, there are now dozens of options on the market and it seems to grow every years. With every company jumping on the bandwagon, its more important than ever to have a little insight into which baits have proven themselves. To help narrow down the selection, Tim is walking us through his favorite soft baits, Hard Baits, and Bluegill-Imitating Glidebaits.
All of the baits discussed in the video are linked below. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. We’ve also included some of our favorite combos for fishing these baits. While most bluegill baits can be thrown on a stout jig rod, the heavier soft baits and GlideBaits should be thrown on a dedicated swimbait combo.
Soft Bluegill Baits…
-Mattlures U2 Bluegill (Shown By Tim): http://bit.ly/2s1dqyf
Colors: Male Bluegill, TW Baby Gill
-Mattlures Ultimate Bluegill: http://bit.ly/2aAuAz5
Colors: Male Bluegill, TW Baby Gill
-Savage Gear Pulse Tail RTF (Jig hook): https://bit.ly/2xx1zjH
Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Gill
-Savage Gear Pulse Tail LB (Weedless): https://bit.ly/2Kd6qct
Colors: Bluegill, Ghost Gill
-All American Sunfish: http://bit.ly/2ahBNOT
Colors: Male Bluegill, Bream
Hook- Owner 4/0 Weighted Beast: http://bit.ly/2ancP66
Hard Bluegill Baits…
-Megabass Vatalion: http://bit.ly/367AOxD
Colors: GG Gill, GG Wild Gill
-Jackall Gantarel Jr: https://bit.ly/3pcIzvW
Colors: RT Ghost Gill, RT Spawn Gill
-Jackall Gantarel: http://bit.ly/2adZI3R
Colors: RT Ghost Gill, RT Bluegill
-Mike Bucca Bull Gill: http://bit.ly/2f1ASHn
Colors: Bluegill
Bluegill Glidebaits…
-R2S S-Waver 168: http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh
Colors: Bluegill, New Bluegill
-Arashi Glide: http://bit.ly/2nHdrL1
Colors: Bluegill, Green Gill
Our Favorite Large Swimbait Combo…
Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 966: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF
Reel- Shimano Tranx 300 (HG): http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw
Line- Power pro Maxcuatro (80 lb Braid): http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- Sunline FC100 Fluorocarbon (35 lb): http://bit.ly/2O4UElB
Budget Large Swimbait Combo…
Rod- Savage Gear Squad 8′ Heavy Swimbait: http://bit.ly/3tT8bS2
Reel- Shimano Curado 300K: https://bit.ly/2HbZ3E4
Line- Power pro Maxcuatro (65 lb Braid): http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Leader- Sunline FC100 Fluorocarbon (30 lb): http://bit.ly/2O4UElB
Budget Small Bluegill Bait Combo…
Rod- Shimano SLX 7’2″ Heavy: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO
Reel- Shimano SLX XT (HG): http://bit.ly/2NfdOnk
Line- Sunline Assassin 20 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm
Want TacticalBassin Gear?
We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here…
TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz
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Major Equipment We Use Daily…
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex 112: http://bit.ly/2vFQypW
Electronics- Humminbird Solix 15: https://bit.ly/35HuPRY
Anchors- Minn Kota Talons: http://bit.ly/2F0QBSP
Net- Frabill Conservation PLD 2612: https://bit.ly/3kdZ3kA
Camera- GoPro Hero 9: http://bit.ly/2KQ0VEI
Favorite Tools and Gear…
Favorite Storage Box: https://bit.ly/3kngvEG
Favorite sunglasses: http://bit.ly/2glE3eN
Favorite Pliers: http://bit.ly/2MpUBEr
Favorite life jacket: http://bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite Scale: http://bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Favorite Lure Retriever: http://bit.ly/2TLTJc6
Favorite Braid Cutters: http://bit.ly/2NQ2jbH
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: http://bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
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If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won’t be able to even see a difference but they’ll know you’re one of us!
#Bassfishing #Bluegill #Swimbait
Live target 3.5 inch bluegill with treble hook on the bottom is absolutely deadly. Without the hook on the bottom you ill lose a ton of fish. If you cant a treble on the bottom its junk.
I was fishing with worms and I reeled in a dinky bluegill like a rocket and some biggen just swiped at it I wanna go back there with a swimbait.
The 10,000 fish Head Hunter is awesome soft bluegill swim bait and it’s weedless, the hook is in the fin and its held with a magnet and comes in 2 sizes
Some time ago I randomly toss a bluegill swimbait and got a bass reaction. The sad part was that it only a small bass the bait got slip of the mouth when it jump out of the water.
My 2 favorite bluegill bait are the Savagegear Pulsetail LB bluegill with the hidden hook and the 10,000 Fishes Headhunter License to Gill color! The 10,000 fishes one swims great and when you kill it, it sits just like a bluegill on the bottom awesome lures!
Mostly fish ponds and smaller rivers. Just got the savage pulse bluegill. Super excited to go try it out.
Hey Tim, great video!! When you upgrade the hook on the Weedless SG Pulsetail what size and weight Owner Beast hook should I buy? Keep the great information coming. Thanks, Tony
I like to know your thought on live target swimbait . just got some christmas gift ????
Oh… You mean Bass eat more than Shad? Who knew? 😂 99% of the water I fish, Bluegill IS the forage. Thanks for this!!!!
Mattlures is the best, a bit expensive but worth it. Their shad baits are awesome. Last year I was running a mattlures shad abt 3-4' in a local river and something hit it, I missed it, but it felt big whatever it was.
4:27–4:31 me too man me too
I have both the Jr and standard sized gantarels. Believe it or not I catch more fish on the bigger sizes than the junior.
vatillion never works for me It looks nice but man it doesn't get hit at all for me
I'll keep trying. Any suggestions would be appreciated on how to fish it better
5" bucca bullgill is my go to!
Yo, TB crew! Making plaster molds of 8" Hudd tails is easy. I've put 10" tails on 8" Hudds. I've poured a 6" tail, then soaked it in water until it it bloated up a tad smaller than an 8" tail. Then I made a mold of that tail to make what would be a size 7" tail.
And of course an 8" tail on a Huddgill.
They all work like you would expect.
Oh, and I was saying You and Matt should try refining a special bluegill swimjig like my two examples here.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/HxPwWmGafwSAWP3M6
Where's the HL Bluegill in the Gantarel JR?
When is the South America video coming out?
Another great video !! .. but one question. At what size do you consider it to be a large swim bait ?
What combo do you throw the megabass Vatalian on
OK I have what probably will seem like a dumb question. Since I am still VERY new to this sport but am trying to watch, read and learn (AND SPEND LOL) as much as I can, Can somebody please tell me what anglers are doing when they reel in their fish and just when they get it to the edge of the boat, instead of reaching down to get the fish or lifting the fish out of the water, they instead lead the fish back and forth and/or around the boat to the other side, sometimes multiple times before then reaching down to get the fish? My only guess is they are simply trying to maintain tension on the line so as not to create slack and give the fish a chance to throw the hook but then again a lot of times it appears they could have picked the fish up sooner but instead lead it more before finally getting it. Is there another reason for this other than what i assumed or is it that pretty much the gist of it. I have seen some do it and they will lead a fish to the back or front of the boat before picking it up. Sorry if this sounds dumb but to me its a far to obvious and intentional act for me not to inquire about it. Thanks
Any tips on how to not catch walleye/northerns when bass fishing? It’s a good problem to have but I’ve lost several crankbaits to walleye and pike. It makes me a little worried to spend $20+ on a bait knowing I could lose it on my first fish
Having gone thru this topic before. The savage bluegill is the best.
Love those savage gear swimbaits too
Luv the bluegill baits💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯
I've picked mine up. Just working so much I can't get on the lake
Park #5 at LOP!!!!! Best place to fish and love loving here.
Gotta check out the Dream Smasher soft gill baits!
Was just thinking I've heard you guys talk a ton on these SG Pulsetails… I don't think I've heard you guys mention the RATTLE SLOTS in the pulse tails! Hope you guys saw those for some sound or a dash of flava!
The vatalion is money! That bait is a class of its own and seriously anyway you fish it works! Not many understand it’s power for catching big fish
Would these be effective even if my fishery has shad or stick with a shad pattern?
I did pretty well on the old Castiac hardhead panfish ( not the larger bluegill). It’s a shame it’s discontinued because it perfectly imitated a dumb young bluegill/redear just wandering near the surface.
I really like the Academy H20 Express swimbaits here lately. $6 a piece, so it doesn't crush your soul if you snag one, but I caught 9 in one morning off of a Baby Bass color pattern one.
Make a video on how you clean and maintain all of you're reels!
I would LOVE it if Savage would hide that big gnarly line-tie eye on the front of their baits. It does make a difference I've found. The less visible hardware the better.
Great baits always wanted to throw a bluegill bait especially around my lakes here in Michigan
Hope to see y'all on my body of water. Santee lake in SC. Been here 10 years and still can't figure them out from packs landing.
My favorite type of swimbait to throw
Hi guys! I was wondering if you guys have ever looked at using llungen lures rattlin shad as a bait this time of year? I grew up in Wisconsin fishing for musky and wonder if you guys have ever looked at using "musky" baits for huge bass? The musky market has L-arm spinners and other baits that could target big bass/stripers. I'm also curious if you guys have been able to check out the musky innovations swimmin' dawg paddle tail bait? Thank you guys for all the info that you put out!
Thoughts on the Bullshooter series?
Tim, sorry if I missed it but what retrieves do you recommend for the Savage Gear Pulse Tail Bluegill? Great video for those of us that fish Northern natural lakes and ponds that have a lot of bluegill forage and typically no shad. Keep up the great work!
I just bought some of the Savage Gear soft swimbaits. I have a 7-3 heavy flipping rod with 50lb braid on it. Will that work OK? That's the only heavy power rod I have and I"m not putting fluoro on it so braid will have to do.
What 13fishing combo have you guys been using the last few videos
I'm totally new to swimbaits/glidebaits but I'm going to try to get into using them this year, starting with the smaller and more affordable ones. I just got one of the weedless Savage Gear pulse tail gills, and I also picked up a 6th Sense speed glide during the TW holiday sale. It doesn't have bluegill profile but I got it in a bluegill color. I also want to try the Mike Bucca Baby Bull Gill and 10,000 fish Head Hunter. Any other recommendations you would have for soft/hard swimbaits for a beginner?
What!? Back at LOP! I’m here now, tough fishing for me so far. Are you still here? Great video, I’ll start trying my soft bluegill today. Thanks Tim
Bass will eat anything
thank you guys for still making vids love them, there very informational.
Glad you made some footage while visiting your roots. So Tim, I am wondering if Bass ever target tiny Crappie in crappie lakes that don't have a lot of BGill? A few of the makers you mentioned have a great looking crappie imitation as well. Is it worth the time and $ to try these?
Tim, you and Matt should try developing a puffy BG swim-jig!
The swim jig is already a Tactical Bassin’ standout bait. Maybe a good BG pattern & swimbait will take the SJ to another level???
Great video. Has anybody had problems with the line tie breaking on the gantarel jr?
Welcome home how long are you back in CA. Clearlake is ononon