Keeping the Sunnies from Engorging Themselves

[MD_Gene]

I like to fish for sunnies. But with size 10 poppers they hit it so hard that many times the popper is down pretty deep in their mouth's. The good news is, most of the time their mouths are so small that the popper is in there but the hook is not penetrating any skin. But to keep my neighbor's fish safe (and I do appreciate him letting me fish there) I was hoping for some advice on how to hook them cleanly in the lip. Thanks in advance.

 

[tomgamber]

I would start with barbless hooks...no matter how deep you'll do little damage...I also like to use a foam spider as it sits flat...I rarely hook a bluegill deep...striking at the first detection rather than that split second you wait for a trout might help too...I rarely use anything as big as a 10 either... thats all I got

 

[JackM]

I haven't been out for gills in a few weeks, but I remember that as the season progresses, their strikes change. Early in the season, it pays to wait a moment, but now may be the time to strike promptly as Tom said.