Where to move when catching itty bitty gills?

[erikwells]

I've had a rough ice fishing season if I'm judging by the number of fish I have caught. I suppose thats why I was almost content sitting in 8-10 feet catch 3-5 inch bluegills one after another. Tried moving deeper and shallower but just could not find bigger fish. We caught maybe 3-4 bluegills in the 6-7 inch range. We were fishing the weeds. My question is shouldn't there be some bigger fish close? This time of year what would you have done? Thanks, Erik

[bobbymalone]

I'd probably move to a new lake rather than a new spot and the new lake should be at least 150 miles away from the metro.

[Rick G]

If you are certain the lake you are on holds bigger gills I would first try upsizing your bait. This should help to keep some of the smaller fish away. When fishing for active fish, I like to use the largest bait the fish will still bite on.

A move to a new location might be in order, weather it be a new lake, or maybe just a different area on the lake you are on. Not all bodies of water hold quality panfish, the DNR lake finder HSOforum is a great tool to help narrow down the search of lakes with larger panfish.

[corncob]

I'd get my bait to the bottom quickly to avoid the crumb snatchers and silver dollars that attack anything in their area.....Sort of like a mini drop setup.

[erikwells]

Upsize my presentation, thats one I didn't think of. They were biting soo light I could barely see the spring bobber move. I had a tiny hook and a splitshot. I did move deeper and shallower and there are some decent/eater size gills in this lake. Very few 9+ inchers. I did catch a mess of them higher in the water column, do the smaller ones hang higher in the water column? If thats the case I made it harder on myself yesterday trying to catch even a few resepectable ones. Either way I got a sweet sunburn and watching the birds migrate was cool. Thanks for the tips.

[Josh.P 86]

I have found with sunfish if you catch 2 or 3 small gills move. Not that you have to move to a different depth but just away from that school of small ones. It seems like they gather fast. By moving ten feet you may get a couple decent ones before the little ones come back. Also don't use a split shot above your hook. You will not even know half the bites you get because they suck it in and spit it out before you know it because of the weight. I would try using toungston without a weight. Also I know a lot of the times the bigger ones will be below the little ones in the water column but last year late ice and this year I have caught nice fish 1 to 2ft below the ice in 10fow. This is when the ice is melting though.

[amateurfishing]

pm me if you like

where are you fishing? 8-15ft have done well on inside contours, if you are only icing little ones, just look for another spot with larger size. lots of variables....how many holes do you drill? sometimes the first dozen produce nothing.

[DLD24]

Also I know a lot of the times the bigger ones will be below the little ones in the water column but last year late ice and this year I have caught nice fish 1 to 2ft below the ice in 10fow. This is when the ice is melting though.

Are they up that high because of lack of oxygen??? I was out today and every fish I marked was 3ft below the ice..