Alive or dead?

Fishing the allegheny river friday evening and night. So thursday I'm heading out to get some bluegills on the fly rod. To keep the gills alive, to bake in the sun, or both, that is the question?

What he said.

I do well on live gills for almost everything. If they die I filet them ,leaving the skin on one side to help keep the hook in. Live ones do increase snags, as they will try to hide under any cover on the bottom. If you are fishing in slower water under 10 foot deep, I would use a bobber. I would not leave them in to the sun to dry, as this will result in less juices to leak out.  sam

The livelier the better, if your after flatheads.  If channels, I cut them up, usually just in half.
 
It's also helpful sometimes to cut abour 1/4" off of their tail.  This prevents them from getting full power and snagging up so often, but they more like wiggle and flutter on the bottom.  Saying "here kitty kat"!

Flatheads - big lively baits are best.  Bigger the better.  You can't cast a 7" bluegill with your average medum-med heavy spin rod with 12 lb test either, don't even bother trying.  8-10 foot rods \with 50lb test mono or braid.  Hard to find them when they are spawning, around now.
 
Channel cats - stinky dead baits, smaller baits, cut fish, chicken livers, stink baits sold in bait shops, average tackle is fine.
 
Gar won' tmess with a bluegill, bluegills are too big for them, unless it's a big gar! 

I caught a nice 20lb catfish this weekend on chicken livers....