What state would you choose to fish Bluegill if you could only pick one?

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

We are fortunate to have members from all over this great nation...One of my favorite things about Bigbluegill.com is the instant connection with the people that love and enjoy the same things that I do when it comes to all things Bluegill from folks all over the country.....Many of us have also had the great experience of fishing several different states whether vacationing, traveling for work or as a result of moving..... If you could pick one state to fish Bluegill, what state would it be and why? Thanks for sharing and I expect this may be a difficult choice for some and very easy for others.....Again, thanks in advance!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

So that's red states for Tooty.......that means we could fish together Tooty when you visit NC.......

[carl hendrix]

Jeffery;; not only is it a tough question;; almost impossible to give just one answer ! but; as for me;; the biggest thing about going somewhere; to catch big fish;; is; WHO would I be fishing with also !!  fishing with a great friend; would also make a fantastic fishing trip!!  so;; with that; I would have to say; going to North Carolina; and fish with Jeffery would be number one on my list ! then; a trip to Ark. to fish with LOFR and his crew ! then on to Calif. to fish with Ledhead;; Jeff Soto;; and Leo !!  wouldnt it be great; if we could take- one year- and visit everybody s state; and fish one time with bbg members !!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Red states for Carl too.......it would be fun to travel around and fish with everyone.......cool stuff for sure.......

[JBplusThuy]

There's only one thing to do (if I only could, LOL). Cram my motorhome full of fishing gear and tour the whole country and BG fish every state, before making my decision :-)

OK, I'll skip Alaska - my parents went there in a van conversion motorhome my dad built himself, and some of the roads in between sound kind of hairy for my Bounder - and Hawaii, for obvious reasons. However, happy to fly to Hawaii and try it :-)

Lake Shasta would be a bust these days, I expect, but I caught some nice BG there as a kid, fishing from an inflatable kayak.

[Bruce Tomaselli]

The only place I've ever fished in for gills is PA, and it's not a mecca for gills, but we have them and they taste good. I'm waiting for an invite to fish some real gill ponds? HA!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Thanks Bruce and I hear you on the "taste good" part......maybe you'll get that invite soon!

[Brian Snodgrass]

My choice would be California. After seeing so many pictures of bluegills caught in California that is where I would choose to go. I would have to say that Florida is also a candidate for the number one spot. The gills down there have to be on the larger side because they have a longer growing season than many other states.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I think you're on to something here Brian......the California Lakes look addictive for sure!

[Bruce Tomaselli]

I'm sure trying Jeffrey, HA!

[Vic Tankersley]

This is still an easy question, it would have to be the state you call home......Roll Tide Roll

[Vic Tankersley]

Ps:I want to fish any state for bluegills or crappie or bass or strikers or walleye..etc.etc

[Kelly Peterson]

Just read through this entire thread and enjoyed hearing everyone's responses.

Well since my home state is Wisconsin and its color is green have to go that way. Have also fished gills in SE Iowa and hoping to add S Illinois real, real soon(if the weather holds). Some of the lakes here in N WI have really nice gills and some gill/seed crosses. To date my grandson has the biggest one that I've posted the picture of before(think it is on my page of photos.) We are totally bait/bobber fishers(sorry, just can't seem to catch them on flies under bobbers and don't like fly fishing) with leeches are by far the most effective, red worms next. Still use hooks but most times these days we use jigs instead because they hold the bait vertically. Slip floats or fixed sometime depending upon the depth we have to fish. For rods I like to use 8 foot fly rod blanks made into spinning rigs aka Bill Binkleman's Nightcrawlers Secrets rods.

Since I am retired now, the house and all its remodel are done and everything is settled now from our move here from Iowa last year when wife retired should have more time to fish. Love walleye fishing but our limit is 3 fish from 15"-20" it gets pretty slim pickings(too much spearing and gil netting going on via the native indian tribes via Treaty Rights. So am going to do more bluegil fishing because of greater limit and more availability. It is a lot more fun catching fish, even if they are small, than not catching any or maybe 1-2 in a day trip.

Ice fishing is ok but more difficult finding the bigger ones through the ice than from a boat. Will do some this winter but wife and I are not liking the real cold we can get up this way so am sure we are going south more often and will take the boat with us from now on. It sure would be fun in my eyes to fish anywhere for bluegil in open water when one doesn't have to be dressed like an Eskimo like we have to be now.