Thanks, Dick. I feel the same way. I'm grateful for John turning me on the BBG. It's where I start my morning, catching up on all the info and adventures of the other members. Fishing is one of my passions and the sharing of this little community is right up my alley. Like minded guys doing what they love and passing on their discoveries. Glad to have you as a friend.

I made it out to Ohio for the first time last August. Unfortunately, I was unable to bring my fishing gear. A group of 8 buddies rented a van and we all headed out Rt.78 West for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and then the Football Hall of Fame. It was a blast, but I was amazed at how many beautiful lakes and rivers I passed on the way. Made me wish I could stop and fish them all!! Next time...I surely will.

Hi Dick,

I believe you are a Pflueger reel man. Would you have an opinion on paring a Pflueger Trion Spinning reel with a Pro Bass6' micro lite spinning rod for mostly bank fishing for bluegill? I have looked at the Pflueger President also but for the sake of economy, do you have an opinion on the Trion?

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/small-stream-fishing-6?context=album&a... Dick is that your  " Crystal Cricket ' on the left here ?

this should put some ice on that pond!

Thanks for the welcome Dick,

I see that you fly fish. I fly fish also. I am a relative newbie to fly fishing, I started in 2009. If you have any tips or tricks you can share it will be appreciated and welcome. I fish mostly for bluegill, bass, Bowfin,, and pickerel. 

Thanks again,

Gary

no problem Dick! i enjoy doing it

Dick, Thanks for the welcome!  I began fishing for bluegill over 50 yrs. ago with the fly

rod my Dad made for me. For the last 25 yrs, I have been flyfishing for trout primarily, but really want to get back to the warm water scene. I'm sure I will enjoy

this bluegill club,  Thanks again, Rick

Thanks Mr Tabbert for the welcome. Great great site! I'm just retired and interested in learning the best places to catch Big Bluegill and Red Ear! I'm on the right site fo-sho!

Best Regards!

Richard Paul

Hey thanks! She is 1996 Magnum running strong! Yea caught the whites in November. 2.78lbs and 2.45lbs. at 16 1/2 inches length. Probably in spring bumping 3lbs (:

Your fly tying is the craft of truly a Master Tyer! love those poppers! Im nutty for poppers!

This has been a really good fishing lake.  It's full of logs and stumps. 

Most days I fish for gills.  I hope this will be a great year.

Chuck

About 10 or 15 years ago you could catch em all day log.

Chuck

Thank you dick! I'm just beginning to get back into fishing after a few years away from it, I look forward to becoming acquainted with this website

thanks,jimmy.

thank you very much for the very hospitable welcome. just found this site and it is great! I'm a life long pan fisherman of copper nose and crappie.

Thanks Dick! I am still working through my combat disabilities and hope to be able to drive again in the next twelve months. So I am kind of stuck in or near the house  for a little while more. I will be more active on the site when I am better.Thanks, James

Thanks for the welcome!

Thanks for the welcome message. I plan to be an active member on this site

Thank you Mr. Tabbert for the warm welcome to the Big Bluegill. I have relocated from S E Michigan to the Douglas Lake area of Ten. so most of my previous experience has been fishing bluegills in all 4 seasons of Mich.  not to brag but I did quite well there. However the locals I have met here all fish bass,crappie,or strippers,which leaves room for me to target my favorite panfish Big Bluegill,a I hope to learn much here and thank you again for the welcome.

Thanks for the kind welcome!
 
Nice to know I'm not alone in these being my preferred fish to pursue!

Sincerely,
Mark

Thanks for the kind words.  My wife and I love fishing for Blue Gill and catfish of which we have lots of here in Tennessee.  Look forward to you site.

Capt.

Thanks for the welcome, I love fishing for bluegill and really enjoy this site. Thanks, again.  John Grimes

Dick, I was looking around again today and realized I never thanked you for welcoming me to BBG.  I have spent quite a lot of time on here looking around and reading/learning and checking out how people fish.  I enjoy fishing for most any fish, but my favorite eater is big bluegills.  I love the way they fight and taste.  I have gravitated away from cane poles, spinning reels, ultra-light rigs and have moved over to crappie poles (12-14 foot) with a huge fly reel (Okuma 9/10) spooled with 250 # power pro line instead of fly line.  I still have one fly reel with fly line, but rarely use it.  I started fishing with an older guy who beats me hands down every time we go.  I adopted his fishing style and equipment and he isn't killing me as bad.

We also fish saltwater with this same rig, which is why we use the heavy line.  It casts almost as well as regular fly line and it will stand up to the 25-30 # red drum we catch in the marshes.  The big reel is very helpful when you are getting a bite and need to take up slack as it will pull over a foot of line per revolution and you can spin the spool and it will roll up the line until tight or you stop it.  These reels have great drags and are super fun to bring in the big gills, crappie, catfish, bass and the saltwater fish as well.

Thanks again

Lee

Thanks for the welcome. I have seen this site several time and thought it would be best to join. I have vowed more BlueGill trips this year.

Thanks for the comments Dick, it would seem you are all over this site.  I can not read fast enough to absorb it all.  I hope I can rise to an appreciable level of BG management compared to you truly dedicated members!

Dick,

Thanks for the reply. I have been an inactive member for a long time and glad to be back to the site. Was just looking for comments on whether the crappie are schooling up this fall around bridges, etc. in the Baltimore area reservoirs / rivers.

Hey Dick thanks for the kind welcome to Big Bluegill. Living in NJ I dont see many gills  over 6 or 7 inches so I enjoy seeing what a big Gill looks like and how much fun it is to fish for them. I still enjoy a few hours in pursuit of these great little fighters. Especially now that I have taught myself to  use a fly rod. thanks again for the welcome. John "the iceman" DiCosmo

Thank you, right now  8.5 " sunfish on medicine lake no giants

but this are good eaters. Dan

Thank you for the warm welcome!  I will try to contribute something of value over time here.  Knowledge is the key to success!

thank you Dick for letting me join your great group of friendly anglers I cant wait to chat with you all and learn more about bluegills.  I fish mostly for trout as that's what we mostly have around here but I love to travel to fish for bluegills and other panfish   you just cant beat panfishing   thanks again

Thanks,for the welcome. I've bream fished all my life n and now have 48 acres of land with my own 1 1/4 acre pond on it.  It's time to learn all about ponds and how to raise some healthy fish.

Hey there Mr. Tabbert, Just wondering if you are still making jigs?

DICKY;;; JUST HOW MANY ; PERRINE AUTO REELS DO YO U HAVE NOW ??  MY COUNT IS;;;; OVER A FEW !!!   HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

WELL;;; NOW;;;;  DICKY;;  IF YOU PUT A  ( 1 )  IN FRONT OF THAT 4;; OR 5;;  WOULDNT THAT BE A LITTLE CLOSER TO HOW MANY YOU HAVE ???  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Thanks for the introduction. Excited to be a new member. God Bless and great fishing. Sincerely Randy.

Thank you Dick for the warm welcome. I’m looking forward to the information posted here and will share what My experiences are as well. Best regards, Tom Keesler 

Thank You

Thank you for the welcome!  Hopefully I can live up to the site!

Thank you so much for the lovely welcome! I’m looking forward to learning all I can from the nice folks here!

Thank you for the welcome. Looking forward to being a part of this group.

Thanks for the warm welcome so far this seems like my kinda place 
I'm from Springfield Illinois and although I don't get to Bluegill fish a lot cause I work 96 hours a week,, In my profession I get to talk about it a lot and get to help others in their pursuit to catch an elusive trophy 
My dream growing up was to work till It was time to retire then open a bait and tackle shop ,, Well at 31 years old I decided it was time so I hung up my night job and opened Big Red's Bait and Tackle,, I'm 43 now and I've been in business for 11 years ,, I have an online store BigRedsBait.com ,, My main Bluegill Jig is Terrys Rockhoppers ,, Then Again I Am not here to sell stuff ,, Just here for info and to share 

Thanks for the welcome, Bill.  I'm here in Central NY waiting on good ice to form.  In the mean time, I spend my time making and selling my Ice Fishing Rods under the name, Hardwater Customs.  It became a hobby business about 8 yrs ago.  I was forced to retire from the Sheriff's Patrol due to injuries and was bored out of my mind.  I combined my hobby of fixing and building rods and ice fishing and it's gotten me through a few surgeries and some rough times.  Nothing beats getting out and catching 'Gills, Sunnies and any of the other well known "Panfish"!  Thanks to all for a great site!  I look forward to many hours of enjoyment.  When I get a chance, I'll post a few pics of my rods and catches.  In the meantime, feel free to look me up on Facebook under Hardwater Customs or on eBay under the seller name of sealpup2.  Thanks again from CNY !

Thanks, Dick. My wife and I downsized into a little condo last year, with a nice pond off the patio. It is full of bluegill.  I have been keeping the 7" to 9"-ers, and releasing most others. I have caught a few 10-inchers, two 11 -inchers and one that was just shy of 12 inches long. (I recently started taking pictures.) I was even catching fish the week of Thanksgiving. Later, Gator!