Skip to main content

Finding Goliath Gills

Finding Goliath Gills

Rick Hammer caught this one on a Lindy Bug. (That I gave him.) And a wax worm. To find him, we had to move several times.

When the most dependable spots from times past failed to turn up more than a couple bulls, Dave, "Shoggie" Shogren suggested we cross the lake to an area I'd never been on. We actually never needed to go very far from the entry point to this lake to find fish, but the coldest day of the year so far took place just a couple days prior. The fish we did find were very reluctant.

So we found some fish slightly less pressured. Almost virgin, you might say (if such a thing is possible, like being slightly pregnant). It was a sandy point or bar with cabbage around it. Now, finding a spot like that is one thing. But you then have to find the fish on the spot. Easy with a boat. Takes a lot of holes to find the right cabbage stalks on the right slopes at the perfect depth.

Actually, we never found much.

Cabbage, that is. And what I could find with my Vexilar was in water too shallow, disappearing at about 10 feet. The bluegills, this day, definitely preferred depths of 14 to 16 feet. We find them in 8 feet at times, but 12 to 18 is the general range.

The key is finding a bottom transition leading to those weeds. If you can. In the outdoor media, we tend to make it sound like transitions are narrow and everywhere and obvious. They aren't and, uh, they aren't. Not always obvious, either. Sometimes you have to train yourself to look for changes over an area 20 to 30 feet across. Barely noticeable changes in bottom readings on a flat can make all the difference.

A rise generally indicates harder bottom. Finding that "sharp break" is another key. In lakes like these, "sharp" describes a drop of three feet over a linear distance of 12 feet or so. Find that spot. If it has weeds on top (way up there — all three feet), ooh, baby.

Better to find these pug-nosed pugilists away from the cabbage, like they were the other day, 48 hours after the most severe cold front of the year. So far. To find them up on top (way, way up there, man) in stable, warm weather is to battle with many more than we did. But, to find them at all? And to find a few that can be convinced to bite with a Thorne Brothers Quiver Stick? Piscalicious.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Muskie Mechanics and Why We Chase Muskies

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman Storyline: Roadtrip Edition, The Jon Bondy Story

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman Storyline: Front Porch Edition with Josh Douglas and Shawn Budiac at X2Power

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman Storyline Ep11 - Nexus Outdoors Owner Aaron Ambur

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Gear

The ALL-NEW Shimano Vanford A: The Measure in Performance

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: Road Hunting Big Manitoba Pike

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Understanding Northern Pike Behavior in Warming Water

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Muskie Mechanics and Why We Chase Muskies

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Destinations

In-Fisherman Classics: The Perfect Muskie Spot

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman TV: Ripping Big Rubber on Lake St. Clair with Spencer Berman

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman TV: Late Fall Trolling Tips for Lake of the Woods Muskies

Al Lindner talks about focusing on the right time to target big northern pike. Shallow water northern pike are the pinna...
Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Primetime Pike and Peak Periods

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the In-Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use