Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I stumbled across this site thanks to Dave Merical. I live in Sarasota, FL where I'm a professional outdoor writer and kayak fishing guide. Most of my guiding takes place on saltwater, although I do a few freshwater trips per year.

When I get a chance to go alone or with friends, I like to go to Lake Manatee, which is a 2,500-acre lake about 30 minutes from the house. There's never very many boats on the lake and I often feel as if it's my private lake.

I always fly fish and I catch lots of bluegill, bass, shellcracker, speckled perch, stumpknocker and channel catfish.

My flies of choice include No. 10 poppers, No. 10 or No. 12 gold beadhead nymphs and my Myakka Minnow. I like using poppers, but when that bites slows I just go subsurface and find it more productive on most days.

Another think I like to do is drive to the Everglades and fish for oscars, Mayan cichlids and peacock bass.

Hope I can learn from this site and contribute.

Views: 122

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Thanks for joining the site, Steve. My favorite thing in the world to do (outside of fishing) is writing about fishing. I think ultimately this site is going to be a great scientific reference, but also a place to sit down and have a good read. Can't wait to get further acquainted. :)

Bruce

P.S. I love doing things with my wife and girls, but that's on a different "favorite thing to do" list.
Hello, Steve!
I give Scott Kershaw credit for directing me here! The world keeps getting smaller! Hopefully, the bluegills will just be getting BIGGER!
I was talking to David Merical earlier and I am very interested in taking one of these guided fishing trips for oscars, mayan cichlids and peacock bass. I think this is an amazing combo of fish and would be a blast of a fishing trip. Thank you for joining the site. Feel free asking question and posting pictures, we love pictures. Happy fishing partner.
Welcome Steve, I go to several fishing sites, but wehn it comes to gills, there isn't a site out there that can beat this one!!!
Welcome Steve

RSS

Latest Activity

wag replied to Danny Phillips's discussion Boats
" Sold 17 ft and bought a 2017 Xpress 16 ft front stick steer with 40 hp Yamaha ob.  "
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Understand John….we were so windy in March ……..hope it drops off…"
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"I have yet to see 50 degree WT and it's too windy today."
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Always welcome…….I waited 16 days to go from 50 to 60 on this river….its a…"
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Great intel, Jeff! Thanks!"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Not in my region Dick….typically our shallow crappie bite centers around the March full…"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nice Predator up Shallow….3/30/2025

"Thanks Dick…..the Bassmasters Elite series comes to town for the North Carolina open next…"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Big Sow Full of Eggs….3/30/2025

"Jeffrey don't it seam like the crappy bite is a little early?"
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Nice Predator up Shallow….3/30/2025

"A great test for any panfish gear. Congrats."
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Monday
dick tabbert commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Monday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Monday
John Sheehan commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

Big male redear from today!!

"Fine Fish1From shore also!"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Troy Dorman's photo
Thumbnail

Big male redear from today!!

"Pretty Troy…..let’s go!"
Sunday
Troy Dorman posted a photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Grandson Cody and I splashed this afternoon…mixed bag of 38 fish dominated by shallow black crappie…surface temperatures up to 66.2 degrees"
Sunday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service