How Big is a Trophy Bluegill? - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-29T02:38:00Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/2036984:Topic:3161?id=2036984%3ATopic%3A3161&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI'd say around 11" thats the…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2010-11-19:2036984:Comment:1110252010-11-19T01:49:01.310ZFlorida Boyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/ChrisBrown
I'd say around 11" thats the minimum to qualify for the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission "big catch" program so thats what i tend to go by
I'd say around 11" thats the minimum to qualify for the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission "big catch" program so thats what i tend to go by I have to agree with some of…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-02-25:2036984:Comment:245672009-02-25T21:00:23.535Zrobsablokehttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/robsabloke
I have to agree with some of the guys... that a bluegill of any size caught on a fly rod is a trophy fish. Especially if you tied your offering yourself. I remember fishing a sink tip line at Bernasconi Beach one day with a little scud artificial that I tied myself... got hit in about 10 feet of water... (I was s l o w l y dragging bottom) pulled in a beautifully coloured Redear... about one pound... fought like the dickens on my 3 wt rod... thought Moby Dick was no longer Melvilles problem...…
I have to agree with some of the guys... that a bluegill of any size caught on a fly rod is a trophy fish. Especially if you tied your offering yourself. I remember fishing a sink tip line at Bernasconi Beach one day with a little scud artificial that I tied myself... got hit in about 10 feet of water... (I was s l o w l y dragging bottom) pulled in a beautifully coloured Redear... about one pound... fought like the dickens on my 3 wt rod... thought Moby Dick was no longer Melvilles problem... I consider it a Trophy fish and a Trophy memory.<br />
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When fishing Ultra Light Gear my son Jon Jon and I consider a fish of 10 inches 1.5 Lbs to be a Trophy fish... anything over 2 lbs is a "Specimen" and we would consider to be a 'fish of a lifetime'.<br />
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Regards<br />
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Rob I fish in the Kentucky River…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-02-20:2036984:Comment:234612009-02-20T21:09:27.567ZJack Taylorhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JackTaylor
I fish in the Kentucky River at Frankfort, KY and a big Gill would probably run about 8" and about 3/4 LBs here. I don't think that qualifies as a trophy, but I would be a happy camper to bring 5 or 6 of that size back to be cooked!<br />
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Jack Taylor<br />
taycoentr@aol.com
I fish in the Kentucky River at Frankfort, KY and a big Gill would probably run about 8" and about 3/4 LBs here. I don't think that qualifies as a trophy, but I would be a happy camper to bring 5 or 6 of that size back to be cooked!<br />
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Jack Taylor<br />
taycoentr@aol.com As an old farm pond consultan…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-02-19:2036984:Comment:232582009-02-19T05:03:41.062ZLoren W. Moseleyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/LorenWMoseley
As an old farm pond consultant in Ohio for the Division of Wildlife, I think there are two very important factors plus many others. The two are population density and water temperature. Over population usually causes stunting but can be controlled by heavy fishing, largemouth bass predation, and removing the excess with wire traps (plans for which I have committed to memory). Competition by other species can also have a deleterious effect on bluegill size. The white crappie usually does not…
As an old farm pond consultant in Ohio for the Division of Wildlife, I think there are two very important factors plus many others. The two are population density and water temperature. Over population usually causes stunting but can be controlled by heavy fishing, largemouth bass predation, and removing the excess with wire traps (plans for which I have committed to memory). Competition by other species can also have a deleterious effect on bluegill size. The white crappie usually does not help bluegills in a small pond, but, there are unexplained exceptions.<br />
Another factor could be annual variations in invertebrates, such as cicadas, crayfish, etc.. Of course, drought and the opposite are important factors. Some things can be controlled and some cannot be controlled. I would be as happy as a goat…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-02-19:2036984:Comment:232542009-02-19T04:37:27.407ZLoren W. Moseleyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/LorenWMoseley
I would be as happy as a goat in a trash pile if I could find a pond with 9" average 'gills. Now, they would not be trophies, but, I fish for food (sometimes). As for where the biggies grow, my aging memory picks southern ponds. I think the record came from an experimental pond at Auburn University - somewhere around 4 lbs. It also depends on the individual properties of the habitat. Once, in Ohio, I had the honor to fish in a spring-fed pond where the owner had installed a light over the water…
I would be as happy as a goat in a trash pile if I could find a pond with 9" average 'gills. Now, they would not be trophies, but, I fish for food (sometimes). As for where the biggies grow, my aging memory picks southern ponds. I think the record came from an experimental pond at Auburn University - somewhere around 4 lbs. It also depends on the individual properties of the habitat. Once, in Ohio, I had the honor to fish in a spring-fed pond where the owner had installed a light over the water and an automatic feeder loaded with soya bean cake broken up. I went home with 8 or 10 bluegills that averages around 10 inches. Should have released them because their flesh was "peppered" with black grub. As a fisheries biologist, I knew that cooking would kill the grubs and they were safe to eat. However, I was not quite hungry enough that time. Racoons in the nearby woods feasted that night. Lived in south Georgia where…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-01-28:2036984:Comment:185732009-01-28T07:43:20.753Zthefishinmusicianhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/thefishinmusician
Lived in south Georgia where the private ponds have monster flish...I live in Minnesnota again ( my hometown ).. but I have caught alot of 9 1/2 and a scant few 10 +...those were quite common down south..
Lived in south Georgia where the private ponds have monster flish...I live in Minnesnota again ( my hometown ).. but I have caught alot of 9 1/2 and a scant few 10 +...those were quite common down south.. Great Information
Thankstag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-01-27:2036984:Comment:183802009-01-27T15:25:22.873ZSharon L. Carterhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/SharonLCarter
Great Information<br />
Thanks
Great Information<br />
Thanks In my opinion, it is a waste…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-01-26:2036984:Comment:182212009-01-26T20:46:04.906ZFiSherwoodhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/FiSherwood
In my opinion, it is a waste to kill the fish just for a trophy. I would hope that you would release the monsters to keep contributing to the gene pool (and for further sport) while using measurements and pictures for creating your wall mount.<br />
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I don't have any problem with keeping the 7-9 inchers for eating but lets leave the real biggies for future sport.
In my opinion, it is a waste to kill the fish just for a trophy. I would hope that you would release the monsters to keep contributing to the gene pool (and for further sport) while using measurements and pictures for creating your wall mount.<br />
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I don't have any problem with keeping the 7-9 inchers for eating but lets leave the real biggies for future sport. Today I went to Cabela's in H…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-01-26:2036984:Comment:180452009-01-26T00:41:10.050ZJohn Cachelhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/JohnCachel
Today I went to Cabela's in Hoffman Estates near Chicago. I saw 3 bluegills mounted on the wall near Fly Fishing Section. WOW! 13 inch 2 lbs 10 oz monster Bluegill, Second is 12 inch 1 lbs 14 oz Bluegill and third is 10 inch 14 oz Sunfish!<br />
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Over 2 lbs is true monster and dream trophy Bluegill! 24 oz (1 1/2 lbs) is trophy Bluegill!<br />
Over 1 pound is trophy in almost everywhere and far northern states!<br />
Make your goal is one at a time and after catch one pound then make your next goal is 1.5 lbs and…
Today I went to Cabela's in Hoffman Estates near Chicago. I saw 3 bluegills mounted on the wall near Fly Fishing Section. WOW! 13 inch 2 lbs 10 oz monster Bluegill, Second is 12 inch 1 lbs 14 oz Bluegill and third is 10 inch 14 oz Sunfish!<br />
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Over 2 lbs is true monster and dream trophy Bluegill! 24 oz (1 1/2 lbs) is trophy Bluegill!<br />
Over 1 pound is trophy in almost everywhere and far northern states!<br />
Make your goal is one at a time and after catch one pound then make your next goal is 1.5 lbs and let 1 pound back to water! That would be great for big bluegills in the future! My thoughts on one pounders b…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-01-25:2036984:Comment:178672009-01-25T15:46:57.422Zbenhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/ben
My thoughts on one pounders being trophies is... throw em back if your trophy fishin' if you meat fish like me...keep half the pounders and throw the rest back for spawnin. Over 11 inches and at least one and three quarter pounds is trophy material. Ten inches are commoners. But the girth is important. A short ten inch fattie that goes more than a pound and a half is a neat fish but not quite the 12 inch slot fish, and its really a bonus when a 12 inch gill is bigger around than it is long and…
My thoughts on one pounders being trophies is... throw em back if your trophy fishin' if you meat fish like me...keep half the pounders and throw the rest back for spawnin. Over 11 inches and at least one and three quarter pounds is trophy material. Ten inches are commoners. But the girth is important. A short ten inch fattie that goes more than a pound and a half is a neat fish but not quite the 12 inch slot fish, and its really a bonus when a 12 inch gill is bigger around than it is long and yes in Northern Michigan this animal exists.