Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Today is my regular day off and I hadn't been fishing since early November. Two months is way too long! Got out for a couple of hours on a local spillway today. It was chilly (upper 40's to maybe 50 degrees) and breezy. Not much happening, but I did catch a 6" Red Ear and a 7" Bluegill. On the microlite both fish put up a struggle.

I walked up the hill to take a peak at Unicorn Lake and noticed they have drained it down about 5-6 feet. I asked the Ranger. He said that they do it to clean off the top of the dam, kill some of the vegetation and keep the pier from rising with the ice. We have been well above normal this year with temperatures, so thus far ice would not have been a problem.

When I walked up the hill, I noticed another angler fishing from the pier. I watched him catch a nice 12" class Yellow Perch. He also got a couple of other bites in a 15 minute span (none of which connected). He was using live minnows and small 2" ish blue gills for bait.

It started to rain and get colder, so I called it a day. Not stellar by any means, but I got out just the same. Hopefully it won't be so long between now and my next outing.

Views: 144

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

yeah i hear ya its been sense november or late october for me, im do for a quick 1 even if the weather isnt fair. :)

I think if you drain Unicorn 5 to 6 feet then all you might have is a small round pocket near the dam. Fish should be pretty thick in there!

Jason,

There's nothing like a fish tuggin' on the end of your line to help cure the winter blues (even if it has been a warm winter thus far).

Jim,

Perhaps I phrased it wrong. The lake has been drained down about 5'- 6' from where the water and shore used to meet. Depth wise, It's maybe three feet. But that has certainly shrunk the amount of water and I'm sure somewhat concentrated the fish. Allot of the fallen trees are high and dry .

The Ranger said they will begin bringing the level back up sometime in February. Late April and early May are my favorite times there. The algae mat grows fast starting in late June.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Good Shoulders. On this One….6/12/2025

This was a fun day…..80 black crappie dominated this party…
14 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
14 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
14 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Finally got a low wind morning on the coastal marsh….coangler and I had falling wind tide and the tidal crappie were chewing.. this was fun!"
15 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
18 hours ago
Troy Dorman commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
21 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Beautiful Coppernose Which Just Pushed Shallow This Week….6/9/2025

"Thanks Tracy……all of these fish were released and I hope to see them again…"
yesterday
tracy willis commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Fish of Dreams on the Albemarle…..6/9/2025

"Thanks Troy…..major league fishing were on Kentucky and Barkley lakes this…"
Monday
Troy Dorman commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Beautiful Coppernose Which Just Pushed Shallow This Week….6/9/2025

Out of 61 male Coppernose, over half were ten inch class….an amazing thing in public waters
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"After a week of warm nights and high humidity, our bluegill push shallow for the strawberry moon is in full swing…caught 61 Coppernose today"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Few More Ahead of the Coastal Storm…..6/5/2025

"Thanks Dick…..we finally have heat and humidity so plenty of thunderstorms but no…"
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Few More Ahead of the Coastal Storm…..6/5/2025

"Nice one Jeff. I hope those storms are missing you."
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service