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.

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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

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Under a Dock….6/21/2025

"And this one is producing a lot of eggs for the future.."
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Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Another Male With the Copper Mask…..6/22/2025

"Thanks Dick….I’m always amazed at our local populations of Coppernose….."
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dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Under a Dock….6/21/2025

"looks like some good genetics there."
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dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
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Beautiful Grape Faced Male Coppernose…..6/22/2025

"Thanks Bruce…..we are blessed to have such a huge population of Coppernose in northeast…"
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Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

So far this year, this little cost-effective Colorado spinner has gotten many a Bluegill as well as…
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"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…"
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John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
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Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Sorry Bruce! A before Coffee reply to your question was addressed to Dick! Giving these Colorado…"
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Always Calm Behind Heavy Thunderstorms…..6/17/2025

"Thanks Marvin…..it’s beautiful area very close to the Atlantic Ocean……I…"
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Bruce Tomaselli commented on John Sheehan's photo
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Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Good job. Catching fish on your own creations is more exciting."
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John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
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Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"Generic I guess, Dick. Assembled from one #12 hook two small barrel swivels, a small spinner blade…"
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Colorado Spinner gets 3 species

"got to love them spinners"
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