The best rockpiles, in his experience, sprout from 15- to 25-foot flats, rising to depths that are still fishable but aren't poking through the ice. If you find one, fish patiently or don't bother at all. Bull bluegills in the rocks seldom travel in schools.

Another "non-typical" alpha bluegill spot is what Brosdahl terms "hard-bottomed humps." Instead of being rock-based, these elevated areas are constructed of gravel, sand and sometimes clam or snail shell parts. In Brosdahl's world, prospective hard-bottomed humps occur in 8 to 20 feet of water, sometimes only rising a few feet. The best ones, he says, feature some weed growth. Typically, that means some coontail or scattered stalks of cabbage.

Humps really cook in the morning and evening hours, especially the weedy crown areas. By day, however, big bluegills can be tracked between the base of the hump and the nearest deep-water escape. This shows the desirability of fishing structure near a plunge into the basin.

Now check a hydrological map of your lake. I bet there's either a rockpile or a hard-bottomed hump, possibly both, possibly many of them. It doesn't end there. Brosdahl adds underwater points to the list. It's not the obvious shoreline point with the red cabin, either. He's talking about subtle underwater points that reach into the lake. Weedy ones rank highest. Weedy ones with inside turns steal the show. Brosdahl says bluegills will follow a straight line, such as a weedline, but seldom will hold for long. Inside turns or "hooks," conversely, tend to corral fish.

"I don't know the bus schedule, so it's hard to pick bus stops along the way," said Brosdahl, "but I do know where the bus station is. Everything will eventually end up there."

And that's a good enough illustration for me to look for a hook.

Now I know your lake has an underwater point, right? Well, if not, Brosdahl has one more arrow in the quiver for river channels. More lakes than you may think have river channels in them. Consult a map or ask the locals. A lot of "natural lakes" feature ancient current-cuts along the basin. Easily observable channels could already be picked clean, so Brosdahl suggests searching for hidden specimens.

The masterminding of bluegills doesn't end there, however. Big-fish and little-fish spots aren't always exclusive. Commingling occurs. With that in mind, Brosdahl advises getting to the bottom of the school in a hurry. You'll almost always find the biggest fish at the bottom of the bunch.

According to Brosdahl, the school's biggest members also hang close to the deepest water available. They will position literally on the outside of the school, assumedly giving themselves preeminent access to safety, and thus their existence.

Besides, trophy-class bluegills are known roamers. Brosdahl says they'll cruise open and flat expanses, hanging near "classic" bluegill territory, but maintaining a distance from the ankle-biters and potato chips.

To beat the bothersome fish, Brosdahl fishes quite large, or at least heavy to the bottom. He first blasts with a jigging spoon, not the normal measly teardrop. His go-to spoon is the 1/16-ounce Lindy Techni-Glo Perch Frostee Jigging Spoon smothered with wax worms or maggots. Bold bluegills welcome the young-of-the-year pattern. Plus, the lure's backside is gold, and Brosdahl says gold is a personal favorite for big bluegills, citing their carnivorous desires.

Plan B is slightly more traditional. His choice is a heavy-for-its-size horizontal jig like the Lindy Fat Boy. It also imitates finned quarry instead of the typical insect stuff.

Don't measure your personal success by the 1-pound bluegill benchmark that's carelessly thrown around town coffee shops and taverns. Most of that talk is utter "smack," as they say nowadays. Judge your fish against the largest fish in the system. If that means half-pounders, then a limit of 8-ouncers is an achievement. If by chance you do pop that freakish and elusive "pounder," take a picture with a scale in the fish's mouth and then throw the photo on the bar to prove to your buddies that they do indeed exist!