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: 124

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

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Joe and I got in a morning trip ahead of the heat wave….a mix of 64 fish with mostly Coppernose in a sandy creek channel…..82 degree water…"
20 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Sorry Bruce! A before Coffee reply to your question was addressed to Dick! Giving these Colorado…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Always Calm Behind Heavy Thunderstorms…..6/17/2025

"Thanks Marvin…..it’s beautiful area very close to the Atlantic Ocean……I…"
Friday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Good job. Catching fish on your own creations is more exciting."
Thursday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Generic I guess, Dick. Assembled from one #12 hook two small barrel swivels, a small spinner blade…"
Thursday
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"got to love them spinners"
Thursday
Marvin Morgan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Always Calm Behind Heavy Thunderstorms…..6/17/2025

"What a serene place to drop a line!! Looks like a place I sure would like to put my little flat…"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Always Calm Behind Heavy Thunderstorms…..6/17/2025

"Understand Bruce….live near a cabbage farmer and saw them picking them…"
Thursday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Always Calm Behind Heavy Thunderstorms…..6/17/2025

"We've had nothing but rain here in south-central, PA. The farmers can't plant and…"
Wednesday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Nice, John. Is that a generic name or the name of the spinner?"
Wednesday
John Sheehan posted a photo

Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

So far this year, this little cost-effective Colorado spinner has gotten many a Bluegill as well as…
Wednesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Got a window this morning after all the storms the last four days…water falling on the coastal marsh was a beneficial thing with the crappie"
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Wanaque river Trout

"Thanks Guys,a leaper from the fast water always excites!"
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Good Shoulders. On this One….6/12/2025

"Thanks wag….I imagine the summer heat has set in down in Louisiana!"
Tuesday
wag commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Tuesday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Monday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service