How to Catch Bluegills with the Split Shot Rig

Wired2fish's McKeon Roberts shares his strategy for finding and catching nomadic summer bluegills by focusing efforts around isolated grass and wood cover. He finds isolated sweet spots on featureless flats using a combination of sonar technologies and then combs the areas with a tried and true split shot rig.
Using a bow-mounted trolling motor, Roberts quickly fishes big flats while paying close attention to any subtleties on the electronics. Waypoints dropped on side imaging are a reference when making high-percentage casts to prime cover or known fish.
McKeon's weapon of choice is adopted from the old-school bare hook and a worm tactic but opts to use a small Berkley MaxScent ned rig bait for the look, feel, and durability. The plastic lure is trimmed to accommodate small bluegill mouths but is chosen for its size, detracting smaller bluegills from being caught. Roberts weights the rig with a small split shot to keep the bait down and moving slowly.
Fishing slowly helps keep the presentation more natural by keeping it closer to the bottom. Short twitches with the rod impart a natural, bug-imitating action. A medium-light power panfish rod provides the right power and sensitivity to handle panfish and bass bycatch.
TACKLE USED
• LURE - Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Lil' Trooper, color - Hot Craw: wired2.fish/3z...
• HOOK - VMC Ike Approved Neko Hook, size 06: wired2.fish/2S...
• WEIGHT - Water Gremlin Green Removable Tin Split Shots, size BB: wired2.fish/3z...
• ROD - St. Croix Avid Panfish Series Spinning Rod, 7' Medium-Light: bit.ly/3ITnuSz
• REEL - Daiwa Exceler LT 1000 Spinning Reel: wired2.fish/3I...
• LINE - Sufix 131 Braided Line, 6-pound: wired2.fish/3u...
• LINE - Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon 4-pound: wired2.fish/3w...
BOAT MOTOR AND ELECTRONICS
• Lund Boats 1650 Rebel XL: wired2.fish/3w...
• Mercury FourStroke 60hp: wired2.fish/3v...
• Humminbird HELIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G4N: wired2.fish/3y...
• Humminbird HELIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G4N: wired2.fish/3v...
• Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor: wired2.fish/3F...
• Minn Kota Talon Shallow Water Anchor: wired2.fish/37...
• Minn Kota Traxxis Trolling Motor: wired2.fish/3O...
OTHER GEAR
• SCISSORS - Rapala Precision Line Scissors: wired2.fish/3z...
• HITCH - B&W Tow & Stow Adjustable Ball Mount: wired2.fish/3q...
• SUNGLASSES - Costa Del Mar Reefton Pro: wired2.fish/37...
• HAT - Mercury Ridge Line Cap: wired2.fish/3A...
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[@slappylink]

This is the best overall bluegill fishing video I've watched. Thank you!

[@redelfoutdoors9668]

I like running gulp minnow on a trout magnet head. Bigger hills seem to like it. Great video!

[@Wired2Fish]

Thanks so much for watching. Great suggestion!

[@Steve_Balboni]

I like the panfish content! That boat is awesome.

[@Wired2Fish]

Loving this boat!

[@chrischrist7982]

Great video

[@sqhunter65]

Yea,been doing that for years great fun. I just recently got into BFS fishing for big redears,and bluegills great fun. Nice video.

[@Wired2Fish]

That would be so fun for redears!! Thanks for watching-

[@kennethdavis459]

Great day of fishing

[@PythonDad]

Very excited about this rod series.

[@Wired2Fish]

Us too! You would not believe how good they feel

[@labelskater613]

I'll just send my 8 year old with an ol zebco and some worms. He can wake me up when the pan is full

[@jacobhenderson1763]

I love bluegill and hot water music

[@Wired2Fish]

Heck yeah!

[@dukies0799]

Do you prefer the L or ML rod in the avid panfish line?

[@Wired2Fish]

I prefer the light overall but when panfish are around weeds and bulrushes it's nice to have that ML for pulling on them a little harder. The nice thing about the ML is that it still has a very light, sensitive tip!

[@garythompson8867]

How did you rig the bait?

[@jamesbarron1202]

I’ve wondered why Berkley doesn’t make a MaxScent bluegill bait. I’ve been testing different scents today on bluegills in my pond. Fishing Bobby Garland Bitty Shad’s under a cork without retrieving it so it’s more of a scent than a visual attraction. I soaked them in different scents in separate baggies for a few days. I think MaxScent is probably the best without trying it yet.

[@mikekowal4051]

You will get better results using a Non Removable split shot ,especially in deeper water. Also if you are ok with live bait use a night crawler. I was fishing for Gills in Utah and ended up catching a 9 pound largemout..On a 5 ft. Ultra light rod. Take a kid and have fun.Mike

[@dramaboifishes]

Gdo

[@kiv6920]

Expedite?

[@Wired2Fish]

To make an action or process happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly?

[@kiv6920]

@@Wired2Fish Yes, as pertaining to the incorrect usage of ‘expediate.’

[@somethin_cool493]

If you have trouble catching Bluegill then Idk what to say...

[@Steve_Balboni]

Say something, because sometimes I do 🤣🤣

[@somethin_cool493]

@@Steve_Balboni maybe $5,000 worth of electronics will help... Around here, you can damn near catch them on a bare hook.

[@codybertram6122]

Depends on what size you are after. 10” gills are not always easy to catch let alone the amount of people who are unaware that if you keep the biggest gills, you end up stunting the fishery.