Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Hello everyone
Two days ago me and two buds boated 214 gills all about the same size 7" off a lake that the temp was 70.9 not big but good eating and 92 of them were mine. it was none stop action fun fun.
a day later I went to my fav. lake witch is clean and clear as can be. when you get into them they are always 9.5" to 10". we got only 24 between two of us.
we seen beds everywhere and fish on all them but it was slow and they were spookish. water temp was 69 to 70. air temp was about the same both days.
My question is whats going on with the big pigs on my fav, lake any help would be great. I hope I didnt miss my honey hole.. thaks carter

Views: 120

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hey Carter...I don't know what and how you caught the bigg gills at your favorite lake in the past, but gin-clear water usually means real spooky fish, of all species. Bluegills have very good eyesight, and the will often inspect a bait several seconds before they take, or reject, an offering. We had a tough time at Piney Run a few weeks back when the water was very clear and prespawn gills were moving shallow, feeding on a hatch, but willing to take a properly fished live earthworm. We use # 12 or # 14 hooks and hid the hook completely with the worm so they have no hint of a hook. Bronze hooks, lo-vis lines in 2 and 4 lb test, and no weight, just cast and hope it gets past the little guys.

The bait sinks slow and natural, hence, just about all the fish in the water column get to view it. I would make some long distance casts to the 'fringe' areas of the spawning activity and when you hook a fish, try and hustle it away from the rest of the spawers, so as not to spook the rest.

We've had bouts with small perch and gills, but we have caught some really impressive fish this year and we are fishing some really clear water conditions. I even wear camo at times and actually crawl on my hands and knees to some spawning beds so they don't see me.

Then again, 24 nice gills is not a "bad' day by any means.

Hope this helps... Jim
"Then again, 24 nice gills is not a "bad' day by any means."

No kidding! My typical day on the tanks around the house deliver from 0 - 8 gills - the whole morning! And the ones I catch run 3-7". I'm jealous. Wish I had a place to fish that delivered gills that size. :-(
Wow, how long did it take you to clean all those fish? Or did you release most of them?

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003891

"Pretty Northern strain bluegill Troy!"
50 minutes ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003887

"Great fish….this is the right kind!"
51 minutes ago
Troy Dorman posted photos
7 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Picked up Several Nice Yellow Perch Shallow…..4/29/2025

"Thanks John….never get tired of quality perch bites…"
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

493726391_10238746707466370_4942384414329687790_n

"Good job ,Jeff! The ones I caught were probably in 5-6 ' but long cast from shore. These…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picked up Several Nice Yellow Perch Shallow…..4/29/2025

Also caught two nice white perch shallow also…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Dock Crappie…..4/29/2025

We had blue skies with 81 degrees…strong southwest wind but our water was still blown out from the…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"It was still windy but a friend and I splashed this afternoon, nice mixed bag ….low water at 70 degree surface temperatures…good times…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

493726391_10238746707466370_4942384414329687790_n

"Nice John….I caught several white perch this afternoon very shallow…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003851

"Pretty specimen Troy!"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003857

"Posting some nice Fish, Troy!"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

492222666_10238698533862060_5336729201480880262_n

"Fish are flopping around like its July up here and we haven't seen May yet! Very weird year!"
Sunday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

1000003857

"I can just taste the fillets!"
Sunday
Troy Dorman posted photos
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service