Do you love big bluegill?

Whooo Hooo ! :-)

Well, after coming here, and getting myself all worked up over big Sunny's, I finally found a few today :-)

Ended up catching 11 Red Ears for probably 15 lbs total. The biggest two were a 13 inch, 1.70 lb'er, and a 13 3/4 inch, 1.90 lb'er :-) And geeez ! I had almost forgotten how hard these things fight ! I mean, sure, I was using my micro-light.... but I wasn't purposely babying them either. I fought them the same way I'd fight a good bass, or catfish, on the same gear, and still, they took a little bit to bring into the boat. I swear that 1.90 ripped 30ft of drag :-)

Anyway, here's some pics....
I think this was a 12 1/2", 1.5 lb'er.

13", 1.7 lb'er

13 3/4", 1.90 lb'er

Note the kitty in the livewell :-) Caught 4 of those too, to 7 lbs. Just kept that one around for company, but ended up letting it go anyway. Didn't feel like cleaning fish tonight.

Oh, this was a 4.9 lb Smallmouth from last week. Same lake.

And this was my underwater "money shot" from today :-) The fish in the front is a 5+ Largemouth which I had already hooked on a crawler, and was fighting (10 lb fluorocarbon leader... can't see it at all) but I really like how this fishes buddy is looking at it like, "What the heck are you freaking out about" ? :-) Caught 3 Largemouth's today too. This was the biggest one.

Anyway, fun trip :-) Different lake tomorrow. Not so great a chance for big Sunnies.... but Clear Lk. Weds ! Hopefully I'll smoke the "true" Bluegills and hybrids there.

Peace,
Fish

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Josh Holley on June 20, 2009 at 1:42pm

great fish what did you catch them on?

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Fish Chris on June 20, 2009 at 9:51pm

Hey Josh, I caught them (and the bass, and the catfish I mentioned) all on the best all around live bait on the planet :-) .....the lowly worm. Mini-crawlers to be specific.

Being a multi-species kind of guy, the thing I love about worms is, their is hardly a fish alive that "won't" eat one :-)

Peace,
Fish

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John McKean on June 21, 2009 at 6:30am

Hey Chris, GREAT fish!! And Happy Father's Day -you're continuing to be the "big Daddy" of worm fishing!!! You really should do a few long articles on worm rigging for panfish, like those wonderful ones (I still have my copies!!) on bass & catfish on your old big bass site! I've been playing around with my own "shaved rabbit strip" worms which,tho artificial, have similar texture, size, and action as the real thing. Fish these on a mini spoon and results are very good thus far! Keep those inspiring photos coming!! JOHN

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Gronaw on June 22, 2009 at 3:27pm

Hey Chris...you are absolutely right about worms...I am convinced that there are no other baits out there that, day in and day out, can stack up with earthworms and nightcrawlers. I have gotten back into wormin in a serious way this year and it has paid off big time.

Nope, you don't have to have every lure made to catch a bunch, and some big, fish. Jim