Bluegill

1/32 to 1/16 ounce jigs with small plastic grubs or spiders (especially in chartreuse), tiny crankbaits, Beetle Spin spinnerbaits, Rooster Tail spinners with gold blades, and small spoons like the 1/16 ounce Acme Phoebe. Live baits such as red worms, crickets, small pieces of nightcrawler, and wax worms.

No. 8-10 cork-bodied poppers with rubber legs and marabou tails (particularly white with chartreuse), black sponge spiders with orange legs, small terrestrial patterns like ants (No. 14-16), crickets, grasshoppers, and beetles for surface action. No.

Spring is the prime season for bluegill fishing in California. Winter fishing can be productive around deep structure and brush piles where bluegill school up in large numbers.

Target them around structure like docks, fallen trees, weed beds, and underwater vegetation, particularly in protected bays and coves. For subsurface fishing, try beadhead patterns for deeper water. In California's clear mountain lakes, downsize flies and use lighter tippets for spooky fish.

As highly opportunistic feeders, bluegill consume aquatic insect larvae (their preferred food), planktonic crustaceans, flying insects, snails, small fish, fish e.g.gs, and crayfish, with dietary variety depending greatly on location.