Bluegills are so widely distributed and bite so consistently that most anglers have good bluegill fishing available all year. Sure, there are difficult days, and fishing for trophy bluegills is often as tough as trying to tag a 30-pound muskie. But bluegills of one size or another usually cooperate if you work at it. This is especially true during the winter, when bluegills feed heavily on zooplankton. They must feed often to sustain themselves on tiny bits of protein, making them catchable for extended periods.

Tackle 

 

Location

Shallow weedgrowth is the most consistent, basic bluegill pattern. But for consistent fishing, it's important to find weeds on a large bar, or in a large bay with extensive summer weedgrowth. The remaining healthy weeds usually attract and hold bluegills all winter. While the largest members of the bluegill population also are attracted to weeds, they're as likely to be rock-oriented. Larger fish also tend to hold in deeper water, at times as deep as 30 feet.

 

Presentation

Tear drops and leadhead jigs imitate microscopic animals that bluegills feed on. The many types of plankton can be classified into two categories: darters like copepods, and bobbers and flutterers like Daphnia. Besides their different appearance, each animal has characteristic movements and environmental requirements. Daphnia swim slowly in a bobbing fashion and tend to slowly migrate upward in the water column at dark, downward in daylight. Copepods are built for bursts of speed and also can swim erratically. They often hold an established position regardless of light conditions, although general movements up or down or left or right may take place on a daily or weekly basis. Let the fish determine which presentation you use by seeing how they respond to variations of each approach.