Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

Just wondering what everyone's opinion is about how big (length or weight) a bluegill needs to be, to be considered a "TROPHY". Or how big is a "BIG" bluegill?

Views: 7778

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

That's a great question. I hope that several different people will answer with their own opinion.

To me a big bluegill is 9 inches or better, and a trophy bluegill would be about 10.5 inches or greater. That would vary a little bit based on the body condition. I've seen some 9.75 inchers that were in such supreme condition that they exceeded a pound, and those were more impressive than some bluegill that were 10.5 but not in good condition.

Any bluegill to me is a trophy when it hits the one pound mark.
I think that a big bluegill would fall in the 8"- 10" range and this is the size that I will occasionally keep to eat. I think that any bluegill that goes over 10 inches and/or a pound should be considered a trophy almost anywhere. For what it's worth, my own personal goal would be a 2-pounder or 12" bluegill or hybrid (I would'nt be too picky at that point). :)
Any bluegill over 9 inches is a nice bluegill in my book (and I never tire of harassing them with my 3-wt. flyrod), but there's a difference between "nice" and trophy-size. They cross over into the "big" category, for me, around 9-1/2 inches, and a true trophy would be at least a pound and a half or 11 inches. (Nebraska, incidentally, has a Master Angler program designating minimum threshholds for "memorable" fish of each game species; for bluegill it's 10 inches or one pound.)
We bought our present pond 3 years ago this weekend. Since then, I learned an incredible amount from the founder of this site, and a few of his friends. Now, in my fourth season with this pond, my idea of trophy bluegill has changed a lot.

Last night I took my flyrod down to my little half-acre pond. I caught 4 bluegill and a catfish that looked like a cartoon character. The state of West Virginia considers a bluegill greater than 10 inches, and more than 1 lb., to be a "citation" fish. All four of last night's bluegills would have qualified. For me, a trophy now has to be over 11 inches, and probably at least 1-1/2 pounds.

Maybe next season, it will be 11-1/2 inches, and 12 inches the year after that.

Ken G.
High View, WV
I look at thing a diffrent way, yes a big bluegill is 9 inches plus. Then you get to the "TROPHY" bluegill and I think that there is some consideration in this. My first bluegill on a fly rod was a "TROPHY" bluegill, but it was only 7 inches. I guess it all depends on your definition of "TROPHY". If you are just talking about size, depending on the location of the pond and if they have been feed. I would say a 10 1/2 or greater inch bluegill is a "TROPHY".
10.5 inches is where typically you can expect a bluegill to exceed the magic one pound mark.

But I agree as well that a "trophy" is whatever is a "trophy" to you at the time. And the first fly rod fish definitely qualifies.
I know that it probably varies in each state and it varies probably even in different areas of each state but if you were to do everything right and were lucky, how long would it take on average for a bluegill to reach trophy size?
If you were to do everything right and get lucky, I think it can be done in 4 years.

If you do some things wrong, and if you get unlucky, if may never happen at all.

If I were to want to meet my magical ten inch mark, I would expect four full years in my region. There's an outside chance you could do it in three if you live in Texas. In more typical scenarios, I'd add two years.
I've caught a 9 3/4 incher weighing 1 lbs 2 oz and a 9 1/2 incher weighing 1 lbs 1 oz five years after stocking BG in 2003.
Bruce using your "system" are you able to consistently raise trophy bluegill year after year or do they just happen when they happen. I am gaining respect for your abilities not only as an aquaculturalist but also as a fisherman. I still have not been able to raise a trophy size anything but am really enjoying trying. If it were easy it wouldn't be as fun.
I can't do it year after year (yet).

I found that about every 2 or 3 years I'm seeing another really strong year class. Two years ago I was catching good numbers of 1 3/4 pound fish, but last year that particular year class evaporated, and I got very few over 1 1/4 lb.
As an old farm pond consultant in Ohio for the Division of Wildlife, I think there are two very important factors plus many others. The two are population density and water temperature. Over population usually causes stunting but can be controlled by heavy fishing, largemouth bass predation, and removing the excess with wire traps (plans for which I have committed to memory). Competition by other species can also have a deleterious effect on bluegill size. The white crappie usually does not help bluegills in a small pond, but, there are unexplained exceptions.
Another factor could be annual variations in invertebrates, such as cicadas, crayfish, etc.. Of course, drought and the opposite are important factors. Some things can be controlled and some cannot be controlled.

RSS

Latest Activity

John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

gtice25

"Slept great that night, Dick! Nice being out there!"
1 hour ago
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

gtice25

"WTG John."
1 hour ago
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

GTBEST PERCH

"Looks like an eater to me."
1 hour ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

GTBEST PERCH

"Yes, brightened my mood, Jeffrey! This was my first Fish that day."
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

gtice25

"Thanks Jeffrey! Some fine Perch and Gills finally! Looking to get a few more outings in before ice…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

gtice25

"Good deal…..a taste of what you’ve been hoping for John…..nice fish through the…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

GTBEST PERCH

"Very nice John…."
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on Sam k.'s group Trout Bums
"Gregs July caught 3#1o..21" Rainbow Trout "
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"Thanks, Dick! You getting out at all?  I got skunked the 1st three times on the ice this year…"
Wednesday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"Nice going John."
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group Piscatorial Pursuit of Perch
"Some nice Gills and Perch and a Bullhead through the ice for the three of us. My total was 13 with…"
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group East coast Ice fisherman
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted photos
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's album
Thumbnail

ice2025

"These four kept of 13 caught. 12 out of the same hole is always great!"
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's group East coast Ice fisherman
"Some nice Gills and Perch and a Bullhead through the ice for the three of us. My total was 13 with…"
Tuesday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

1stice Fish 2025

"Oh, good! Don't want loser anyone."
Feb 9
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

1stice Fish 2025

"We have 5-6" of ice, Bruce! The 3" is the snow we got last night."
Feb 9
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

1stice Fish 2025

"We have 5-6" of ice, Bruce! The 3" is the snow we got last night."
Feb 9

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service