Anyone ever tried using Japanese beetles for bluegills??

That's a good idea. There's lots of them around.

If I can catch bluegills on a blade of grass on a hook then you can use just about anything to catch them. Vibrant color of the beetle might catch more than just bluegills, and you can get those beetle traps and stack up a supply easily

I'd not want to move invasive around... but then they're here already

Drowning them xyz things is a good thing! Feesh would be a bonus!

Truth

So how would you hook them?

I wouldn't want their stink on my hands. I'd rather have dip bait on my fingers than that stink.

We used to use Japanese beetles for bait in farm ponds. We used a fly rod, short shank #12 hook, 2# mono leader, floating line. We caught bluegills, crappies and small and largemouth bass.

The fish would lay under a mat of algae, and we would lay the bait just outside the edge of the moss and SLURP! Another one in the bucket.

Garry-

Years ago when my kids were little we took a trip to visit my folks back east (Illinois). There was tons of those beetles so I had the kids catch a bunch then we went to the pond later and caught a bunch of bluegill with them, worked great