Bluegill are a "Big" Deal

[Bob Lusk]

The first fish I ever caught was a sunfish, a smallish big-mouthed creature my dad said was a 'bream' and that I later learned was a green sunfish. I would venture to say the first fish many, many kids catch is a sunfish...and bluegill are the kings of panfish.
As a professional fisheries biologist with 30 years in the pond management business, helping people design, build, stock and manage private fishing lakes and ponds all over the nation, bluegill are head and shoulders above all fish as my personal favorite.
Sure, largemouth bass are "king" of the waterways in the south, but without bluegill, what is a bass but another undergrown, undernourished overcrowded big mouth fighting with its brethren for every living morsel willing to venture outside the semi-safe confines of a nest? And, I love the challenge of growing giant bass. It's a big part of my career.
Ah, but bluegill are the essence, the backbone of the foodchain for giant largemouth bass. That makes the irridescent, shimmering dinner plate-shaped fish a creature with a purpose. They spawn a lot...and often. That's a key component when bluegill wear the hat of keeper of the food chain.
Ah, but there's more.
Not only do bluegill serve a gargantuan purpose as a bass smorgasbord, they are a terrific game fish in their own right. Then, throw in a third important factoid...not only do bluegill have good taste in a fishery, they taste pretty darn good filleted, dipped in corn meal and fried at 350 degrees. A virtual triple threat.
Speaking of hats, my second one is editor of the worlds leading pond management magazine, Pond Boss. . And, yes, for those enterprising pondmeisters wanting to tag up with facts and experiences about bluegill, our writers pay special attention to these fabulous fish.
From a personal standpoint, I have raised and observed bluegill in almost every environment possible, from tiny little frog ponds to the biggest private lakes in the country. My love for bluegill grows every season.
Why, you might ask?
I won't even mention how aggressive a wad of bluegill under my dock are when my four year old grandson tantalizes them with a pinch of nightcrawler on a small, long-shanked hook. He catches fish and giggles until his short attention span tries to drag him back to The Backyardigans.
Bluegill have lots of babies. Some will become fish food, some have a larger destiny. The fact we can produce four or five generations of bluegill in a single year allows people with a "fast food" philosophy the opportunity to genetically select fast growing fish. Then, toss in the fact that bluegill only must be 2.5 inches long to have babies and we have the potential to select the best fish, fast. Then, do like Bruce Condello does and hand pick your best "children" and give them the finest gourmet food you can possible design, add clean, healthy water in the best environment, stir and wait. Presto-Chango, you have the best bluegill on the planet...maybe.
It's that teeny-tiny little "maybe" that keeps guys like me going, moving, dancing and trying to figure out what little genetic tweak we might add, what key habitat point or nutritional component we might find that could make the difference to grow a truly giant 'gill.
See those photos here and read about it in Pond Boss.
In the meantime, I truly wish a sincere "go get 'em" attitude about all of us bringing long deserved attention to my favorite fish.
Oh, and yes, I'll keep trying to grow many, many bigger fish and compare notes with all of you....Fish on!

[John Cachel]

Bob,
Thank for your comment! It make sense to protect the biggest bluegills in the pond. Its no wonder why so many state record bluegills and sunfishes came from farm ponds and private lakes! Not easy in public lakes unless people forget about it and bluegills get chance to be trophy! I believe that protect between 8" and 10 " and keep one over 10" is good for public lakes. Far better than nothing! Someday I would love to own a nice pond then I would protect biggest bluegills.
I don't know if you ever hear of T.L. Anderson Sunfish Farm in far southern Illinois. He charges 50 dollars for full day with 5 pounds of bluegills fillets but you can not keep any bluegills over one pound. It make sense to make sure the biggest is to stay in the lake! If you decide to keep a monster bluegill to have it mounted then you will have to pay extra.

[Bob Lusk]

Alex & Charles, thanks for the kind words.
John, Here is my opinion how to grow giant bluegill. First, you must ALWAYS protect the largest fish...always. They are the secret to growing the biggest fish possible. There are several reasons, but the main reason is one that not too many people know about or understand.
The most obvious reasons to protect the largest fish are: They are probably genetically superior; They are probably the older fish with the best chance to grow larger; They have figured out how to make a living in their home waters.
What isn't obvious to most people is that the biggest bluegill compete for nest spaces, preventing the younger, smaller males from coming onto the nest. When a young fish devotes less energy to reproducing, they grow larger and sometimes faster.
One of my favorite phrases is "A four pound bass can't grow to 10 pounds in a skillet" applies to bluegill, too. If we protect the largest fish, we stand a better chance to grow larger fish.
To that end, if the goal is to grow giant bluegill, protect the big ones, harvest some of the intermediate sized fish and be sure the pond or lake is overcrowded with 10-14" largemouth bass to eat many of the young of the year bluegill each spawn.

[John Cachel]

Great reading and I learn something! I like to hear some more from you and your expert on ponds and big 'gills.
I am curious and I like to know what is your opinion......

Illinois DNR experiment on several lakes in Illinois to create bigger bluegills. Specific regulation.....Bluegill or Redear Sunfish....8" minium length limit and 10 fish daily creel limit. Will it work? I think that's mean remove 8 " and above then smaller bluegills will be take over! 10 per day might be helpful but 10 over 8" is might be too many on some lakes!
How about is that I plan to suggest to Illinois DNR for protect between 8" and 10 " and keep only one over 10" per day on some lakes. It might give some bluegills get chance to be over 10". What you think?

I know two lakes near my home is catch and release only. It don't work very well! I believe that because of Shad is the problem. Shad and Bluegills share the same food.

Best thing I can think is to release big bluegills for tomorrow's trophy! I remember, In' Fisherman magazine article said that is not easy to release a 2 pound bluegill. Get your first 2 pounder mounted. Then its time to release 1 to 2 pounders. It make sense!

[Charles Singleton]

Good read, Bob. I'll hafta "ditto" Alex's comments. Looking forward to more from you.

[Alex G.]

GREAT READ!!!!! I love hearing from the experts. Bob, I must say I look forward to reading your imput on the mighty gill!

[Bob Lusk]

Well, thanks Scott! It's a pleasure to be here. I have the utmost respect and admiration for Bruce.

[Scott Kershaw]

Thanks a ton, Bob! Great to have a Super-Star here!!! Let me tell you, that Condello has it down!!! I am sure that you are a hero to him, as he is a hero to me!