Other live baits suitable for bluegill include grasshoppers, crickets, catalpa worms, or about any insect large enough to put on a hook - most bluegill are not particularly shy about forage. Hooks with long shanks are easier to remove from the small mouth, especially if the bait is swallowed. Thin wire hooks are the choice with live bait because the bait will stay alive longer and will be more enticing to fish as it squirms on the hook. Artificial baits suitable for catching bluegill are numerous. A small piece of worm or maggot attached to the lure will often increase bites when the fish are exceptionally choosy.
All colors catch bluegill, but black is preferred by the most ardent 'gill fishermen.
Tiny spinner-baits, spinners, and weighted flies can be used with spinning gear to catch big bluegill. Fish these baits as slowly as possible for best results. Dry flies and small poppers can be used with a spinning rod if a small float is attached about 4 feet from the lure. Long casts with a jerky or twitching retrieve will take bluegill when they are feeding on the surface. Flyfishing A fisherman using a flyrod is a rare sight today on most Iowa waters.