Do you love big bluegill?

Jim Gronaw's Comments

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At 6:54am on November 11, 2009, John Sheehan said…: Jim-The Crappie fishing in NE NJersey yeterday was OUTRAGEOUS!They were all only 9-11 inches but countless numbers caught by three of us.Plain bucktails and marabou jigs .We didnt even tip with twister tails let alone bait and it was an onslaught like the three of us never saw in our lives before!

At 7:42pm on November 10, 2009, Greg McWilliams said…: Hi Jim I have a question. As you probably noticed I am working on my favorite flies album. I was looking at the cricket I put up today and it had a 5 star rating, so that got me to looking at some of my other pics. The flies that recieve a rating are flies I wouldn't have expected a rating for. What is the criteria for a rating?
Back to fishing they have stocked 3100 lbs of trout in my favorite blue gill lake, making gill fishing tough. But in the evening with the bug hatches here, If you see something rising could be gill, trout and or crappie. Makes for fun fishing with size 12 soft hackle. Take Care and keep a tight line on those monster up north.

At 7:06am on November 10, 2009, Greg McWilliams said…: Jim, I like the comment on the gil and red ear , although they were actually caught the end of Sept., I still haven't givin up fly fishing for them. But comment like that from a world renowned Sports Writer such as your self, is a honor to recieve.Been reading up on you and am going to take a look at your Gronaw River Killers and adapt them in fly form. The Rocker is a sports writer. Skinard On Dude.

At 5:13pm on November 3, 2009, Bluegillboogiegal said…: Well Jim, I have no idea what he's been telling ya'll but here it comes from the horses mouth. When our youngest daughter was about six, the local bass club had an annual youth fishing tournament. She won the two years she entered. The first year, we were both there with her to bait and unhook. She competed against about a hundred kids with all species allowed. She had over 5 lbs of gills at weigh in. All of them about three fingers wide. The next year, he had to work. It was just my daughter and me. Over 6 lbs, first place again. More than a twenty percent gain without the dead weight in the way. Does that answer your question?

I think the bass club kept the tournament quiet the next year. I don't think they tried to ban girls or anything, just forgot to let them know.

At 10:27pm on November 2, 2009, Patrick "Bullworm" Olson said…: Jim, thanks for the advise! I will start rallying the troops! You are absolutely right, I need more numbers.

At 5:11pm on November 2, 2009, JIM SIMKINS said…: I always use crickets on my jigs.

At 2:22pm on October 31, 2009, Gene Jensen said…: that Shellcracker came out of the Savannah River. In a place called Deep Step. It is locally famous for it's great panfishing.

At 4:26pm on October 29, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: friend request sent

At 1:20pm on October 29, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: how can you catch bass? and what kinds of fish i pic # 56, 53, 38, and 1. what is that blue net used for (pic 8)?

At 7:31pm on October 28, 2009, Tim Overbaugh said…: You said you "had" a 12.5 ? Wow ! That's a free replica if you would of kept it my friend!! Right now I'm starting with an 11-inch or better Bluegill for a free replica. I will do one or two fish in one size at half inch increments until the last biggest fish can't be beat.
there will be exceptions. Deliver the fish to me, I will make a mold of the fish and from the mold you get a replica. Free! How great is that!

At 12:07pm on October 26, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: thank you for accepting

At 4:01am on October 25, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: when you'r on turn up your chat volume. this is what you do, go to the top of the page, click chat on the right (its on the menue bar) then when you get there put up the volume which is next to the smilie face, and the computer volume because the beep is very soft. this is because if someone trys to talk to you the chat volume is on mute you wont know they are there. if you want to talk to someon just copy and paste this message.

At 9:28pm on October 20, 2009, IceWarriorGill said…: Hey Jim, Thanks for the kind words!!!! Tight Lines!!!

At 10:46am on October 18, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: when your on turn up your chat volume. this is what you do, go to the top of the page, click chat on the right (its on the menue bar) then when you get there put up the volume which is next to the smilie face, and the computer volume because the beep is very soft. this is because if someone trys to talk to you the chat volume is on mute. if you want to talk to someon just copy and paste this message.

At 11:36am on October 15, 2009, JIM SIMKINS said…: Hi Jim...There's nothing special about what I do, I love fishing for bluegill and spend as much time on the water as I can. The question that most ask is if the bigger fish strike the bait different than the smaller fish. The answer to that is yes, in almost every case if you aren't watching your line you would not know you had the bite. I've caught and had 9 bluegill between 2 1/4 and 2 3/4 pounds mounted, and more two pounders than I can count. The chance of catching a true 2 pound bluegill in Lake Perris is very good. The best advice I can give is expect to catch a 2 pound bluegill on every cast and you'll always be ready. Anybody that wants to give it a try come on out to California and we'll give it our best shot.

At 4:21pm on October 13, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: turn up your private chat volume on because it is always on mute

At 2:09pm on October 12, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: about what temp do you catch most bluegill?

At 4:16pm on October 8, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: thanks

At 4:03am on October 8, 2009, Dale Fortin said…: what is the best way to catch bluegills?

At 5:25am on October 5, 2009, Dan Gwaltney said…: Hi Jim. I see you're wrestling with the ol' early retirement decision, so I thought I'd just tell you of my own experience with it. I'll try to do so without influencing your decision, as that is strictly your call.
I retired over 6 years ago from the phone company at age 57 with 34 years of service. I was pretty burned out and had come to hate my job...at least many aspects of it. Like Boogieman...yeah I got nosey and read his comment to you ;-)...I made the right decision but misplayed it somewhat. The first few years were tough financially, until Social Security kicked in a year ago, but things are OK for now on that front. I managed to wait until the mortgage was paid off, and that is what made it possible.

I guess the first thing to ask yourself is about how well you like your job. Love it, hate it, or "take it or leave it?" What do you think will happen on the job if you stay and a lot of others take the package? Will it increase the workload to the point that you start hating it?
Don't know if you are married, but if you are her input is essential, of course.
What about your insurance situation? The company cancelled all of mine, and I have no health or life insurance. The recent little heart attack I had took me from "debt free" to 60 Grand in the hole in one weekend! There could be a bankruptcy filing in my future. :-( I knew I was out on a limb, but was hoping that those little shenanigans would hold off until Medicare.

About this part-time work after retirement; would that be in your own business or working for somebody? Have something in mind? Are you a "self-starter?" Answer that one to yourself with all the honesty you can muster! I am not one of those, and it is the one thing that has kept my retirement from being totally blissful. I have a difficult time making myself do things that I know I should be doing. I've just about ruined my knees trying to kick myself in the butt!

Now I'm not looking for answers to any of those questions, just suggesting that you ask them to yourself, which you probably already have. ;-)

Do I regret retiring early? Nope!! I experienced about one nanosecond of regret when I reached 60 and realized I could have doubled my pension by working two and a half more years, then I went back to being happy.

I hope this helps, if only to know that someone is thinking about you as you grapple with this.