Do those jigs mentioned above work well for bluegill, if so how do you fish them? Do you just jig straight down below the boat? or do you cast out and retrieve? Also do soft plastics work well? if so what kind?

my fav for bluegill are smalllllll plastic grubs "the curly tail ones" and well basically any small crappie jig, they all work but i have best luck on grubs, just toss em out and retreive slowly. tip em with a wax worm and hang em under a bobber ,, slow retreive when its slow usually gets em that way too, roostertails work u cast out start realing and give it a slight jerk at first when ur realing so it gets the spinner going "they stick sometimes or just dont spin", try realing in different speeds til u find whats workin, also change colors if the one ur using isnt working out, i personally dont go after bluegills perposely with roostertails cause its a lot of hits but few hook ups,, small grub on a small jighead is ideal, smallllll bass love em too, hell i caught a 3 pounder on one last summer while messing with bluegill and crappie, give it try

Yes they work, but rubber jigs would be my first choice.

Roostertails work really well for bluegills and pumpkinseeds when they are bedding. Just fish the lures across their beds and they'll kill it!

Yes they do work. I tend to downsize them. Often times I catch Bluegills when the bass fishing is slow. Roostertails I just cast and retrieve as well as marabou and plastics. Bluegill have no problem running them down and hitting them with vigor.

When it comes to my go too lure I can always trust my rooster tails. Doesn't seem to matter what I'm fishing for, bass I tend to stick to the 3/8 or 1/4 ounce and bluegills or crappies I'll down size to nothing over 3/8 oz. My trick is to slow it down a bit and here's a trick my father in law taught me you might want to try. Using a needle nose pliers slowly flatten the willow blade out starting from the top of the blade and work your way down the blade while holding the pliers at a 90 deg angle to it. All you have to do is apply even pressure as you flatten the spinner out and it will accually place a more uniform curve on the spinner blade and this allows for a much slower retrive that you can't obtain unless this is done without sacraficing flash or running depth. You can literally walk this bait in front of a fish and keep it in "the zone" much longer and with the slower retrive the pan fish will attack it more when it passes slower. You will instantly feel the extra pull on your line as you retrive the lure if you do it right and it also adds more vibration to the blade as well. This is something that has made my rooster tails my favorite for walleye as well and walleyes were the reason my father inlaw even showed me this trick. Good luck to you and hope you try this.
You won't be dissapointed.

Sorry for my lack of knowledge, but what is the difference in roostertails and marabou jigs?

Posted By armstrong.j on 08 Jun 2010 06:42 PM
Sorry for my lack of knowledge, but what is the difference in roostertails and marabou jigs?

Worden's Roostertails are inline spinners.  The smallest size have props spinners instead.

roster tails in size 00, 0 ,or 01
road runners work good to small jig with a spinner blade


tiny hair jigs work good like you use for ice fishing you can fish them under a bobber with a waxie for bait
small jigs 1 /32 - about 1/4 0z some swear buy just holding them still and shaking them

I guess I had happy fingers , I meant to say down size to nothing over 3/16 oz. But the crappies will hit larger baits if they're in the mood.

I have my own secret weapon for Bluegill. Yes, plastics and jigs work well, but mine work best.
TIGHT LINES!

Sounds like you are already zoned in with those Rooster Tails.  One of the reasons I prefer them is that they allow me to cover much more distance in searching large reservoirs.  I have even trolled with them several times with pretty good luck controlling the depth range by speed of boat or size of the rooster tail.  Without a doubt when white bass are foraaging on the top as often happens, I have a 1/4 ounce white body with the front trimmed in hot pink, usually magic marker from  TACKEL BOX.   IT IS A KILLER EVERYWHERE, I usually prerig a couple of lines with a single barb less hook so I can get back in there fast.  Most of these feeding frenzies only last ten to twenty minutes.  You seldom miss one on any cast and I have double rigged them just to try something different.  Check with local DNR to know length and kreel regulations--when you get that excited it is hard to keep up with how many.  Catch what you need and release what you don't for another day.  Great fun.  Good time to take a kid fishing.  Uncle Tom