Macrochirus in the media.

[Tony Livingston]

For some time now, I've pondered the possibility of starting a blog dedicated to those special instances when our favorite fish gets to spend a few moments in the limelight. My excuse for having not accomplished this task sooner is disturbingly familiar....not enough time. Well that situation has been remedied, at least temporarily, by my family and I enjoying a long overdue vacation.

So as I sit here surrounded by palm trees, nearly overwhelmed by the smell of sunscreen, with waves breaking on the beach and unfamiliar saltwater fishes swimming right offshore, I've decided the time is right to think about bluegills once again.

I don't have any format in mind for this blog whatsoever, and I welcome member input and participation. What I'm envisioning is a place where we can showcase articles, publications, television programs, etc. that deal with fishing for bluegills, raising bluegills, the science of bluegills, lures and tactics for catching bluegills......you get the idea.

If you read an article in print that deals with bluegills, let us know where you found it. If it was a webpage, share the location with the membership. Let's put together a database of bluegill information that will hopefully benefit all of us.

In the weeks to come I hope to post a great many times into this thread. I encourage all of you to do the same. If you read something about bluegills that speaks to you, give us a heads up on where you found it.

In light of the patriotic nature of this past weekend, I will kick things off with this: http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/fishing/2013/07/red-white-an...

[LEE OSWALT]

My fishing partner and I use big fly reels (Okuma 9/10) mounted on a 12 - 14 crappie jig poles.  We rig them with 250 # power pro line instead of fly line for durability and use a leader one foot shorter than the pole.  On the leader, we put a slip float and a tiny BB split shot.  Using baitholder hooks, we are able to place the bait at the desired depth.  Usually we use crickets and worms.  With this rig, we are able to catch all the bluegills and shellcrackers (red ear sunfish) that we want to clean any time we go.  This past spring, we caught several 1 # to 1 1/2 # shellcrackers and bluegills over a pound every trip.  This rig also yields bass, catfish and crappie on most trips.  Very rarely will we use jigs or other artificial baits.  When I first started fishing with Ron, I discovered that while my light spinning reel was fine and worked great, when we were trolling along looking for fish, Ron would get 5 or 6 casts to my one because all he had to do was lift his line and place it in then next spot.  I spent way more time reeling in slack to cast than I did actually fishing.  When you hook a nice size bluegill on this rig, it is so much fun! We of course have the drag set so the bigger ones can strip line from the reel and when we catch a nice bass or catfish we have to tighten it up a little.

I highly recommend it.

To expound on the rig, we also use this rig for saltwater fishing on the Gulf Coast and it is the only line we have found that will stop the big bull red drum.  We use the large Okuma reels because they pick up over a foot of line per revolution and it allows us to take up slack very fast when we are getting a bite.

[Slip Sinker]

Nice article in In-Fisherman on mini crankbaits for Bluegills

Mighty Mini Panfish Crank Baits
http://www.in-fisherman.com/panfish/mighty-mini-panfish-crank-baits/

 

[Tony Livingston]

The In-Fisherman 2015 Ice Fishing Guide has a great article on taking bluegills....the piece focuses on three different elements, all of which are very hot right now: Tungsten jigs, UV coatings, and micro plastics.

You members in the southern latitudes take note....it may be focused on ice fishing, but this methodology will take gills year-round!

[Tony Livingston]

The June/July issue of Outdoor Life has an article on using a drop-shot rig, along with live crickets, to take big gills in deeper water.....

[carl hendrix]

got my copy to !!  Bruce;; what you said in the in-fisherman was great buddy!!  outstanding job!!

[Tony Livingston]

Got mine today! Fantastic job Bruce! Even a shout-out for BigBluegill.com.  Nice!

[Jim Gronaw]

Just got my Aug-Sept In Fisherman and Bruce Condello is front and center with an article by Steve Ryan on prefered prey scenarios of trophy gills and more. Great info, great read.

Should be on the stands now!

[Jim Gronaw]

Looking forward to it!

[carl hendrix]

I will be looking for it Tony!!  thanks for the info!!!

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP TONY .........