Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Fish population?

I have very good luck catching conditioned bass by trapping small, 2"-3" bluegill and using them for bait. I hook the bluegill about a 1/4" in front of the dorsal fin just deep enough that they can be cast but also so that the hook can be jerked out easily for a solid hookset. I use an octopus hook and fish the bluegill with no weight by gently tossing it out about 10 or 15' from shore and using the line to make it swim like it is injured. No bass can resist an easy meal that looks natural. Bluegills won't steal your bait either.