Hello all. New guy here, and I'm a trophy Bluegill wannabee :-)

[Fish Chris]

I'm a fishing fool, who will fish for anything that will bite my hook, but like many anglers, my first fish was a Bluegill (42 years ago... I'm 44) caught on my late Uncle Elton's private pond.

Anyway, my claim to fishing fame (if you want to call it that ;-) is big Largemouth's. I've caught 88 over 10 lbs, with a PB of 18.4lbs ...... but for all different reasons, I'm getting a little burnt out on them (at least until I get into another good big bass bite ;-)
Some of my other PB's are an 8.5 lb Smallmouth.
A 300+ lb Sturgeon.... Oh, and a 90 lb'er on my micro-light Bluegill rod :-) That was fun. 2hr and 10 minute fight.
110 lb Bat Ray
31.2 lb Striper
30.2 lb Channel Cat.
2.7 lb Crappie
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But what I'd REALLY love to catch someday, is a straight up, legitimate, 2.0 lb Bluegill, or better !

My best big Bluegill fishing in the last few years, has been at Clear Lk. CA. I catch lots of 8" to 10" pure Bluegill. But I also catch a bunch of even heavier Sunfish of some sort of Hybrid. They look a lot like Green Sunfish, but are often too wide... too big... and sometimes have the verticle barring of a Bluegill. I suspect they are Bluegill x Green Sunfish hybrids.... but without DNA testing, who really knows ? Gorgeous though, and REALLY strong !

I posted some photos of these fish in the photos section.... Can you guys find these from here ? Or should I attach them directly to this post ? Let me know.

Anyway, I'm planning a Clear Lk. sunfish trip (or a few) in the next few weeks. Will post photos if I get some. {I'm into photography pretty heavy too... and my photography has come quite a ways, since the sunfish photos I posted here}
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Anybody here ever heard of, or fished Lake Pillsbury CA ? It's supposed to be awesome for giant Bluegill..... but a long, horrendous, unpaved drive :-(
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Sorry for being so long winded..... but finding this site has opened the floodgate for all of my Sunfish thoughts ;-) LOL

So, finally, has anyone here ever seen, or fished for, Sacramento Perch ? They are the only species of Sunfish that are actually native to the West coast. They were pretty much decimated with the introduction of Largemouth's Bluegill, and other non-natives..... but they still thrive in just a couple places... most notably, Crowley Lake in Bishop CA. I'm trying to make a trip there this year too. 5 hours one way though......

Anyway, please forgive my rambling. Hope somebody is interested....

Peace,
Fish Chris

[Kiana Fitzpatrick]

Welcome to the site.....isn't nice to have a place to ramble about your BLUEGILL love....LOL...keep rambling, we are always listening here!!!

[IceWarriorGill]

Hey Fish Chris, You are quite the Celebrity!!! I love going on your website of HUGE Largemouth Bass!!! You have an incredible Fishery there in California--some of our California anglers have posted "Jaw-Dropping Photos of Monster Coppernose Gills--I'm jealous as we simply don't produce the massive size Gills or Sunfish here in New York that you guys do due to the short growing season here and the incredible fishing pressure on our public lakes and ponds... Welcome to the Best Big Bluegill Site on the Web (in my humble opinion)!!! Hope you like what you see here--we have a great group of dedicated anglers and just plain ole good folks with superb fishing skills!! Tons of great info to help you land that Monster Gill or Sunfish of a Lifetime!!! Welcome again to the Site and good luck in catchin those Monster Gills!!!!!

[Bruce Condello]

Fish Chris!

I've been awaiting your arrival. I know who you are. I had a picture of you with a smallmouth that was my screensaver for about 6 months!

We're super glad you're here. Check out some of the photos. There are several bluegill in the 2-3 pound range, and some redear sunfish in the 3-4 pound range. Your photos and contributions would be extremely welcome here.

Bruce

[Fish Chris]

Thanks so much for the warm reception :-)

Heck yes I love fishing for Bluegills :-) Size of a sportfish is relative to a lot of things, first and foremost, the species !

I guess this is just preaching to the quior :-) but their is something special about a big Bluegill turning sideways to you and ripping cartwheels ! I mean come on.... Can anybody argue that "ounce for ounce" nothing pulls as hard as a Bluegill !

Anyway, like I said, my mind is set on Big Gills now. Thinking about at least 3 places.
I'll try to get some good shots and will definately post them here :-)

BTW, did anybody take a look at the sunfish shots I posted ? ....especially the hybrid looking ones ? Ever seen any like this ? I hope to get a bunch more of those this year.... and even better photos of them....

Thanks again for the warm welcome :-)

Peace,
Fish

[Bruce Condello]

The thing I know about you, Fish, is that your angling prowess is almost equalled by your ability to capture a great photo. I'm constantly amazed at your photos of big fish. Can you share with us a little bit about how you do that in a separate blog post? I'm sure many of us would be entertained by your photos and photographic technique.

[Jim Barndt]

Hey Chris you can ramble all you want, I think we all might like it. I'm a newbe as well and share a lot of the same interest's as you. I'm also in to the photography but not to good at it, my camera is a Cannon S5is, I love it.

[Fish Chris]

Hey Jim, that Canon S5is is a great little camera too. About "being good at photography", I still tell people about myself> "I'm not really a photographer.... I'm just a fisherman who likes to take some photos here and there" ;-)

Peace,
Fish

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey Chris...you are right about the rare bluegill going two pounds these days. Nationwide, you will note many more 12 or 13 pound lrgemouths than you will 2 lb gills...they are that rare. Bruce and I are working on a feature for the In-Fisherman about just how rare they are and what realistic chances todays' angler have of catching one.

Welcome aboard and enjoy the site!

[Fish Chris]

Hey Jim, that is going to be a very interesting article. I've often wondered if we don't see more BIG Bluegill than we do, because of insufficient or incorrect harvesting practices ? ..... or, does it have more to do with genetics ?

Hmmmm......
Fish

[Jeff Soto]

Chris! My fishing neighbor! How are you doing? I have not heard from you in a long time. What are you living in Yosemite now? (Beautiful pics, by the way!) I'm kind of like you Chris. I've caught lots of bass, (although none that were near as big as your fish!), and now I just want to have fun with my favorite fish and ultralight gear. I just love the 'Gills! You know Chris, if you want to catch a 2lb or better BG, there's two good places you should try here in Southern Calif. Lake Perris and Lake Barrett. I have heard of Pillsbury Lake. A co-worker bought a cabin near there, but he's not a fisherman.

[Fish Chris]

Jeff ! I'm fine. How are you ? :-)

Nah..... I'm about 4 1/2 hours from Yosemite, but I try to make it over there at least once a year. What a beautiful place it is !

I would just LOVE to fish Perris, or Barrett..... but it's just so far for me..... then all of the special regs, and quagga mussel garbage to deal with :-( CA is just doing everything they can to make fishing as tough as they possibly can :-(
Their are a lot of things I LOVE about Cali...... but the (water) politics and red tape are just horrendous :-(

Anyway, please stick some of the giant Barrett, and Perris sunnies for me, okay ? :-) ...and don't forget the photos ;-)

Peace,
Fish

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey Chris...Bruce likely can explain more about the genetics of giant gills and the likelihood of their occurance in public as opposed to private waters. I do believe that old-school thinking where as anglers ALWAYS keep the biggest panfish is still ingrained in even todays panfish anglers. I've caught between 450 to 500 gills in my lifetime that exceeded 10 inches, but have yet to catch a 12 incher. The last 300 or so I have released as a voluntary effort to keep big fish in both public and private sectors.

I think it is reality that 2 pound bluegills are just plain rare, but a change in thinking to releasiong big, even trophy fish, may one day lead to more 2 lbers nationwide.