Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Bruce Condello's Blog – March 2008 Archive (8)

Bill Cody and Theo Gallus have a forum discussion in regards to controlling bluegill numbers.

Comment by Theo Gallus



You know, I'd like to run another BG pond someday without LMB, but with darn near every other kind of predator that will live in my climate - SMB, walleyes, HSB, and maybe YP as an in-between-predator-and-forage-base fish. I guess since I likely won't be able to swing it until I'm older, with no kids at home and retirement looming, I could figure on being able to apply lots of angling pressure to help control the BG.



Bruce, can you think of… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 25, 2008 at 3:00pm — 15 Comments

Optimal Foraging Theory, and why you should know about it.

Some people believe that in order to grow a big fish, all you have to do is feed it a lot. But it is somewhat more comlex than that. Knowledge of "Optimal Foraging Theory" is important when attempting to grow any gigantic fish.



OFT, or optimal foraging theory. Simply stated, E is the amount of energy (calories) from a prey item. h is the handling time which includes capture, killing, eating and digesting. h starts once the prey has been spotted. E/h… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 24, 2008 at 10:30am — 10 Comments

Daryl Bauer speaks about big bluegill--where they are in the Midwest and how to catch them...

The following is an excerpt from Daryl Bauers commentary on big bluegill. Daryl is the Lakes and Reservoirs Program Manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.



The best Nebraska waters for a really big bluegill on the fly-rod might be private ponds, maybe some private pits. Some of those have excellent water quality and habitat and do not have excessive fishing pressure. So, if you can gain access to some of those waters, that might be your best bet for your… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 24, 2008 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

Thoughts on smallmouth predation to keep bluegill numbers in check.

I spoke with my Dad yesterday, and he's very much on board with the idea of acquiring smallmouth bass as a predator to keep bluegill numbers under control in his pond. Conventional wisdom says that smallmouth, with their smaller mouth gape, and smaller general size will have trouble keeping up with reproduction. I believe this to be true, but in my Dad's pond we will be able to run a seine at least once, and maybe twice a year to cull out slower growing bluegill and to thin their numbers. I've… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 23, 2008 at 9:00am — 16 Comments

<b>Sometimes all the planets align...</b>

In the early to mid 1990's an interesting phenomenon occurred in South Carolina. In the Santee Cooper Diversion canal, it was deemed necessary to spray an area for aquatic vegetation. Evidently the resulting bare substrate allowed for proliferation of certain Asiatic mussels. An existing population of redear sunfish suddenly had a virtually unlimited food resource for several years. The result was nothing short of spectacular as no fewer than three… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 22, 2008 at 1:30pm — No Comments

A quick overview of state record bluegill.

State Weight Length Location Angler Date

Alabama, 4 lbs 12 oz , Ketona Lakes by Birmingham T.S. Hudson 4/9/1950

Arizona, 3 lbs 15.68 oz, 15.75" ,Goldwater Lake Christopher Ray Mapes 5/2/2004

Arkansas, 3 lbs 4 oz , N/A Albert Sharp 8/7/1998

California, 3 lbs 8 oz, Lower Otay Reservoir Davis Buckhanan 7/10/1991

Colorado, 2 lbs 4 oz, 11.5" Hollenbeck Reservoir Nicholas Toczek 1988

Connecticut , 2 lbs 4 oz , private pond Daniel Gesner 1996

Delaware, 2 lbs 10 oz,… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 22, 2008 at 1:19pm — 7 Comments

What does it really take to grow a huge bluegill?

Let's look at this in recipe form...



The first important step in creation of a big bluegill is to start with a fish that has the right genetics. By genetics, I mean that the fish should come from a strain that's well adapted to your particular region and climate. Don't use coppernose bluegill in Minnesota; Dont import bluegill from Arkansas for your Oregon pond. Get healthy fish from a reputable source, and if you're stocking a pond that doesn't currently have bluegill (or any other… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 22, 2008 at 11:00am — No Comments

Re-tooling my Dad's pond

My Dad wants to have a trophy bluegill pond. And I WANT him to have a trophy bluegill pond. Last year the pond experienced some moderate water quality problems and I was forced to evacuate most of the fish. There are now trophy bluegill living in my pond that came from my Dad's pond. I also had to evacuate several master-angler sized yellow perch. My goals for management of his pond this year are as follows:



1. High quality aeration system--designed and purchased from Ted Lea at… Continue

Added by Bruce Condello on March 22, 2008 at 10:48am — 7 Comments

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Multi Panfish
"hit a spin Jig.9""
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Thursday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"Fall Perch on big Crank Bait:"
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"It amazes me how big a bait a late Summer/ Fall Perch will take! "
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

octcbp2

"It amazes me how big a bait a late Summer/ Fall Perch will take! "
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on Wade Jones's group Crappie Crew
"2024 Crappie Fall catches from shore. Live Grubs, Gulp 1" Minnow, 2" paddle Tail Minnow…"
Tuesday
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 19
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 16
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 14
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

11cupsawc

"Crappie have always impressed me with the way they look! A very fond memory is the first one I…"
Nov 13
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

11cupsawc

"More beautiful golden Fall colors on the Black Crappie…..nice fish!"
Nov 12
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

cupsawbg9bs

"Nice gill on the beetle spin!"
Nov 12
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

cupsawc

"Like the calico colors of the Fall…..nice crappie John!"
Nov 12
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Nov 11
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 10
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

STCrappie

"You bet Bruce! Fishing for an hour to an hour and a half each day I 've been getting three or…"
Nov 10
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

STCrappie

"About a dozen of those would be great! Nice crappies."
Nov 10
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

466097223_10236349245411317_8266863466993619288_n

"Top: Shimano Sensilite 5'6"Rod /Daiwa Spinmatic Reel. Trilene clear xl 2# test…"
Nov 9
John Sheehan posted photos
Nov 8

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service