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Sunday Afternoon 2-19-12

A mix of Bluegills and a couple of Redear. Still predominantly females, which is what I usually see this time of year. The gills' ran between 8-9", while the redear went 10" Caught in pond #4, released to pond #1. Not usually fond of relocating fish, but could not bring myself to cull them out. At least all of the ponds are owned by us and contain the same fish and vegetation. (With the exception of the HBG pond)

Excuse my boots.......!

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Comment by Tony Livingston on February 24, 2012 at 2:28pm: Well, I don't SEE any, but then again I don't see too well these days. I believe there are two redears, both in the last column on the right, the second and last fish in that vertical row.

Comment by Zach Pierce on February 24, 2012 at 2:14pm: Are there any crosses in this batch?

Comment by Greg McWilliams on February 20, 2012 at 10:05am: Winter GILLS, VERY NICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by federico del toro on February 20, 2012 at 4:24am: very interesting information, thank you for sharing tony

Comment by Tony Livingston on February 19, 2012 at 7:39pm: Jen, If your water temps are on par with mine I suspect that you might be able to tempt a few gills' with your flyrod and some slow sinking flies, or lures of some sort. Look for the shallower areas with access to deeper water, a steep shoreline implying some depth right off the bank, and some type of overhead vegetation or branches. Try for a cove that has all the above and catches the most sunlight throughout the day.

Comment by Jen Nayfly on February 19, 2012 at 7:13pm: Very nice Tony and encouraging. Our water temps bout same as yours. Hopeful for a good catch soon.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on February 19, 2012 at 6:33pm: I like the water temp testing - makes me feel good!

Comment by Tony Livingston on February 19, 2012 at 5:45pm: Jim, I'm happy to say I found these fish right where my pond thermometer said they should be. Loosely schooled in a shallow cove on the Western edge of a pond. Main body water temps were at 45 degrees, and I'm sure the combination of shallower water, sunshine, and a dark bottom brought the water temps in the cove up a few more degrees beyond that. The depth in the cove was 4-5', and the banks were steep.... so the fish were right on the edge of the bank, underneath some overhanging limbs. Classic ice out foraging conditions, minus the ice this year.

Yesterday's fish fell to a #10 vertical teardrop jig, with a beemoth. (red and black) Today, I switched to a smaller tungsten, but the added weight caused it to fall too quickly, and the fish would have no part of it. I initially switched from yesterday's teardrop due to insufficient hooksets on too many fish, the reason I prefer not to use vertical jigs, if I can avoid it, unless I'm hunched over a hole in the ice. i don't like them in a casting situation.

I settled on a size 12 horizontal jighead (red), with a plain hook , no body. I threaded on a beemoth, which slowed its fall just enough. The fish absolutely hammered it, but I did take the time to adjust my knot prior to each cast to ensure that the jig hung horizontally. I believe it makes a huge difference.

If this warming trend continues, I believe that spoons and spinner/jig/ combinations will start taking fish soon. Just a few more degrees.