All Discussions Tagged 'release' - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-28T19:19:15Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=release&feed=yes&xn_auth=noBluegill mortality and kids fishing derbiestag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2018-04-15:2036984:Topic:7510402018-04-15T17:40:25.619ZBill Praterhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/BillPrater
<p>New member checking in here. I’m with a senior fishing club in Colorado that takes a lot of kids fishing in groups. Because of the numbers and experience levels, we’ve kind of fallen into a routine of rigging up spincast gear with 8-pound mono, with small hooks, a bobber and pieces of night crawler. The results are predictable as they’d be with most inexperienced anglers: usually good results with small bluegill, but with way too many caught only after the fish has swallowed the hook. We…</p>
<p>New member checking in here. I’m with a senior fishing club in Colorado that takes a lot of kids fishing in groups. Because of the numbers and experience levels, we’ve kind of fallen into a routine of rigging up spincast gear with 8-pound mono, with small hooks, a bobber and pieces of night crawler. The results are predictable as they’d be with most inexperienced anglers: usually good results with small bluegill, but with way too many caught only after the fish has swallowed the hook. We crimp the barbs, but what I want to push for is flies and jigs only, maybe scented.</p>
<p> I’ve read available literature on reducing mortality and such. Does anyone else have experience with managing large numbers of kids and catch and release? We also run a fishing derby for residents of assisted living centers, with similar issues: too many fish caught only after they’ve had the chance to swallow the bait. Appreciate any suggestions. I’m under the belief that at minimum using small jigs will be better than bare hooks rigged up with split shot and such, and we can occasionally slip the bait past the immature Bluegill’s and attract a few bigger ones.</p>