Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

If you're interested in big bluegill--how to catch them or how to raise them, please post a comment here.

Views: 189

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

I'd like to see some links to good stories about big bluegill fishing. If anybody has such a link please start by posting it here. This website will be the "GO TO" place for bluegill fishing and raising big bluegills.

Pond Boss magazine and it's forum "Ask The Boss" have an almost limitless source of good information in regards to raising big bluegill.
Keep in mind that some of the greatest fish and fishing minds reside on Pond Boss Forum "Ask The Boss", so if there is an important question asked, it would be most practical to refer you to the Pond Boss site where these issues have been tackled by the experts.
At what water temp do big bluegills start moving into shallow water? Looking back at last year, I was catching them in the beginning of April. I don't know what the water temp was here in NE at that time but ice out was earlier.
I usually start seeing the big males at around 60 degrees F. with regularity. The big females will often stage just into deeper water, waiting for the nests to be prepared. If you're catching males in close, try fishing out a little farther for the sows.
Movement of prespawn BG can also depend on size of water body. Smaller waters warm faster than larger waters, and the larger the water body the more it lags behind the warming of smallest waters. In small waters with a fair amount of shallows with darker bottoms it does not take long for these embayments or shallows to warm into the high 40's or low 50's during a sunny clam day. Hungry BG will move into these areas to feed on early emerging insects. BG are actively feeding in waters of high 40's. The trick is to locate those areas and find out what they are feeding on.
What about recomendations for stocking a brand new pond with Bluegill as the target fish? In my case I have a brand new pond just under an acre in north Texas, the following has been recommended to me;

600 2-3" Coppernose Bluegill
200 2-3" Redear Sunfish
80 2-3" Native Largemouth Bass
10 lbs. Fathead Minnows

Is this a good mix? At this time I do not have a feeder, but will be on a feeding program soon after stocking.

Thanks for the thoughts...
Honestly, this is probably better answered in the Pond Boss "Ask The Boss" forum.


I'm not really an expert on stocking, and if you go to the Pond Boss forum you will have dozens of experts who will address the stocking concerns.
What type of structure best benefits BG in a small pond? I have formed a cedar tree "reef" that covers depths of 8' to the surface and continues up a slope to about 3' to surface. This structure is 30' long and 6' wide. Are there types of structure that may be more beneficial to BG specifically?


How about these?
i would like to know how to raise them. i dont have a pond though so...im not realy sure how to do it i guese you could put them in a 300 gall rubbermaid tank with a filter.

RSS

Latest Activity

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…"
6 hours ago
tracy willis commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
6 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
yesterday
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
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Saturday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Friday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's album
Thumbnail

Shore Fishing Trout and Panfish

"Nice healthy-looking Gill."
Friday
John Sheehan posted an album
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Black Crappie in Calico Colors….6/5/2025

"Thanks Bruce….no way to hide it…..this is what I love to do..,,Carolina…"
Jun 5
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Black Crappie in Calico Colors….6/5/2025

"Enjoy yourself! Of course I know you are!"
Jun 5
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Jun 5

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service