Slow day near Badin today...

[Kevin Cheek]

Went out for a few hours this morning hoping to get into some decent 'gills and take a few home.  It was not one of my better days...broke my leader and didn't have another leader or my tippet and to top things off I dropped my 5'6" Ultralight in the water and it's now 15' under.  UGH!

It wasn't a total loss...I caught the biggest bluegill I've ever caught.  Wish I could have weighted and measured.  It was big enough that it tried to eat a spead craw and I could hold it like a bass, no problem. 

(it was bigger than it looks...I promise!  :) )

[carl hendrix]

hey Kevin;; get a metal stringer;; go back to where you dropped your ultra light !! tie on the metal stringer;; open up all of those others and start dragging!!  hopefully you will snag your ultra light!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Congrats Kevin on your personal best........This is actually a quality Warmouth and close to if not Angler Recognition size........Did you get any measurements?  This species needs to be 11 inches and/or 1 pound to be considered a Citation in North Carolina.......but all that said I still consider a 10 inch fish a trophy and your fish looks to be a trophy warmouth to me......Great catch.......Thanks for sharing with the group......wish we had more information on the lake fishing in the state but not as many members that take advantage of our state's many lakes........

[Kevin Cheek]

Well I'll be a monkey's uncle...thanks Jeff for the corrections.  Seems I learn something new everytime I go out!  :)  I wish I could have gotten measurements, but unfortunately...not.  So is the difference in a warmouth and a bluegill the orange color of the bluegill's belly?

My goal this year is to find bigger bream on the fly and ultra light tackle from a kayak.  Its been a lot of fun so far!

Thanks again!

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Quite a few differences but still both are in the "sunfish" family...........Less is known about Warmouth but clearly they have the largest mouth of the sunfish and often will take on larger offerings like a bass popper or even a large plastic worm intended for largemouth..........they will most often be attached to wood but will attach to thick vegetation during their spawn like hydrilla and pads..........I notice interesting character differences on the nests as well.......bluegill seem to protect the entire colony where in my opinion a Warmouth will chose one nest in the colony and guard it relentlessly while ignoring surrounding nests.......a very tasty and tender fish to eat but often are found in lower numbers so I tend to harvest a few at a time rather than the entire creel......this may not matter but I think it helps in the areas I fish...........Good luck Kevin and keep us posted......

[Steve Crowder]

Like to fish Badin. Never have been there before. Where do you put in from Kevin? Good looking Warmouth.  

[Kevin Cheek]

I put in below Badin Lake and Lake Tilery...there's a small public launch just outside the town of Badin.  I guess it's probably more along the Yadkin River.  Nice area with not jet ski/ski/wake board activity.  There are some big bass boats and john boats.