Jim Gronaw's Comments

What does PR stand for? Delete Comment

12 ft huh ,were they on bottom or close?

What does PR stand for?

Hey Jim. Thanks for commenting on my picture. To get your BigBluegill.com gear go here: http://shop.cafepress.com/design/32371654

Great page! I'm glad you mentioned using a carolina rig when the
gills go deep. It gets very hot here in the summer and a carolina
rig is standard for chasing big gills with bait.
tight lines

Jim didn't know you wrote for In-fisherman.One of my fav fishing mags,didnt pick up the current issue but I did look through it and saw your article.Wish I had enough knowledge to get by writing articles for fishing mags.

No Jim these are not spawners. These are Lake Michigan perch which run very large on the most part due to their diet of alewifes.They are very temp sensitive and light sensitive though.Your in Michigan,right.I am suprised that you haen't caught any of these.
Here in Wi it's closed during the spawn but not in Ill,I dont know about Michigan.I did post a blog about the technique I use to catch them.Many guys use alewife imitating jigs but I prefer bigger bait for the bigger fish anythin I catch under 10" goes back andmore times than not anythin 15" or better goes back for spawning purposes that would change if we started catching them every cast like I used to when I was still a very young boy.That 14" weighed about 2 to 2.5 lbs my biggest ever, I have caught longer but not heavier.Still waiting for that 17" to 18".They are going to taste great in a fry this upcoming week.Tight Lines Brother.Jusat wish I could catch gills as well as I can catch LM perch.Check out my page, if you live close to any great lake, the technique should work for you that I outlined there.

I was reading infisherman mag and just wondered if you were part of the Gronaw fish slayers I was reading about?

Hey Jim, Lake Champlain is an incredible fishery with some very good fish in it!!! Let me know if you get a chance to fish it---you'll have a real blast!!!

I readed your article in an In' Fisherman (March 2007). It is very good article! 2lbs+ 'gills are rare and freak fish that I agreed that doesn't mean I will stop trying. Looking forward to read your future articles!

Thanks for the kind words, Jim! Yes, the bluegill I have mounted is a skin mount. I have a cool triple bluegill mount that is also skin mounted fish. I will try to get some pic soon!

hey this is josh holley and I'm really interested in your favorite technique so could you send me some pictures of several different combinations

I think I may learn something here. Thanks Jim. I'd shake your hand if I met you.

All of the fish in my pictures came from lakes with public access in central minnesota. The big guys and girls were off of spawning beds that took me years to locate and timing is crucial to get the giant females because they come and go from the beds quickly. I release them after a few photos in the areas I catch them so they can finish the spawn.

Thanks for the info. That was a great artical you wrote in the In-Fisherman Magazine. It fit my question so well. I normaly fish one or the other not both at the same time. live and learn I guess.

Hey Jim, It looks like I found a good location that has some nice RedBreast Sunfish in it!! Apparently the RedBreasts can grow to be some real Bruisers too!!! Many of the other fish are Gills, RBreast x Gill Hybrids, RBreast x P-Seed Hybrids, P-Seed x Gill Hybrids!!! Some of the locals are telling me that they've seen 15 inch Sunfish come out of this area (I wanna believe it...but I just don't think that's possible as we're talking probably beyond most State Record proportions and measurements!!???) Anyway many of the RedBreasts, P-Seeds, and Gills appear to be parading their Spawning colors!!!

Hey Jim, Fireline Crystal is a great line!!! Haven't used it recently but it is still an awesome line in my opinion!!! I've been using PowerPro Braid 5 lbs test this year for the first time with 4 lbs Vanish fluorocarbon leader with good success...However, the other night I was using my Cherrywood which is spooled with just the Vanish when that big Freighttrain of a Sunfish hit and Bulldozed me into the Brushpile....I mean he hit, I set the hook, and drag squeeled for about 3-5 seconds and then it was Game Over and Knockout by the fish!!!! I never even knew what hit me!!!! It seems like a pretty good spot and believe it or not, I've only fished it from shore, never from my Yak or from boat....Hope to get out in my Yak and explore that area further this weekend!!!! Have heard that there are some nice Gills in the same area but seem to mainly catch the P-Seed Hybrids!!! Lotta fun though!!!Will keep ya posted!!!!

yeah man definitely join it. Just went fishing for cats today in the rain with only one catch.. Still fun though

Hey Jim, Thanks for the kind words on my Sunfish!!! I was able to get into a group of nice ones yesterday evening!!! I caught, photographed, and released all the ones in the photos!!! They were big bruisers and what was truly scary is that I had 2 others pull drag on me all the way down to a sunken brush pile where they broke me off!!! They had to be Monsters and they were definitely BIG Sunfish by the way they fought...My 4 lbs line just wasn't enough for those TANKS!!! Maybe I should move up in line class but I'm afraid that the bigger line size will "spook" the larger sunfish!!! Any thoughts!!!??

Hey Jim, Sorry so late gettin back to you about the Yaks. I'm definitely using my Yak and I have the SIN type. I really like it and I feel that I sneak up on the fish better with it, than I ever could with my Jonboat!! I think the SOT type would do fine as well!!! If you decide to get one, I think you will really like it!!! Tight Lines!!!!