Bluegills or Bust??

[Tony Livingston]

BBG members.....a penny for your thoughts.

As I look around the pages and the photos posted here, I see a vast array of species portrayed alongside the almighty Lepomis......certainly our members are well versed anglers, capable of emerging triumphant during hand-to-fin combat with any number of fishes, but it gives me reason to ponder.

Just what constitutes a serious BG outing, or endeavor, where BBG folks are concerned?

Are you happy to just be fishing, content with a tug on your line from anything that swims, or have you set out on a mission, your quarry identified and targeted? I realize there are times when it's simply good to be outside and near the water, enjoying a simple pleasure in today's hectic world. I've been there myself. And I know there are instances where necessity comes into play....our good friend Jim Gronaw makes a living pursuing and writing about fish....All fish. And, understandably, It looks like he enjoys it greatly.

But what about those times when you're out to catch BG ( and I'm going to lump all lepomids together under this BG category....something I NEVER do!)......or do you ever set out with just that goal in mind? If you do, what constitutes the difference between a successful outing, and a skunk? I you don't catch many BG, but load up on Crappie and Catfish, was the day still a success? Or are you disappointed?

I'll stick my neck out, and admit that I am disappointed if I don't catch BG....that's what I'm fishing for. I quit multi-species angling some years ago, so if I catch something other than a Lepomid, it was probably by accident. Which does happen.....you can't always control what hits your jig, or picks up your bait....but that doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. And If I continue to catch non-targeted fish, I will move, or pack it up and head home.

So, in the spirit of conversation, and remembering that all legal practices, techniques, and personal practices are to be respected, what do the members of BBG consider a serious BG effort....or do you even believe in such a thing?

[sean kerley]

Richmond Mill and the KFS are actually in NC, almost at the border with SC...I googled it awhile ago. Looks awesome, but for $600 a day, I expect to be out in the ocean looking for meat!

 

As far as flies...haha! I am TERRIBLE with a fly rod. Self taught, still using a starter kit I ordered a few years ago. I tend to stick with terrestrials, 'cause I halfway know how to use them. Being able to see the take on the surface also helps. At the end of the canal I mentioned, where there is a dam and then the main river, the water opens up and I'll take out the fly rod. They aren't as big here as they are in the canal for some reason, but there a thousands of 'em! And they love blue spiders on a fly rod.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Okay sorry for the location on RM.
We have a lot of fly tyers here at BBG, so join one or two of the fly groups and let us help you.

[sean kerley]

No worries...maybe one day this Spring I'll have my son shoot some video of my casting and post it up for some advice. I'll take all I can get!

[dick tabbert]

Can't help you there it will be like the blind leading the blind. I was thinking about some lessons myself from someone who has some kinda idea what there doing.

[carl hendrix]

for me; I just like to get out- relax- take it easy. maybe pull out a subway sandwich and pepsi; hang my feet in the water ; and watch the world go by! Sure I love to fish for gills;; but I;m not in that big of a rush any more. I have found that - kicking back; relaxing ; and not being rushed is a lot better!  I see a lot more; nature at its best!  Deer; Turkeys; Racoons; Birds of all kinds.  and when I do wet a line;; just love a descent pull on a fly; or a jig!  I don't target bass; unless I know they are chasing my gills!!  Anything I catch- besides a gill- was a accident.  as for getting skunked??  well ;; maybe I didn't catch one;; but that's ok with me to;; im doing what I want to!  and to me-- every gill is a trophy!  just some are bigger trophys  than others!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

One reason I got my new float tube is because it's on steroids
It's more like an overstuffed chair with oars.
My first thought was to pull it under the shade of a tree and use it for napping.

Some hard core fisherman, eh?

[dick tabbert]

David I never thought of that nap thing in the float tube but heck I take a nap everywhere else so why not.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Ditto. I'm making up for all the times I refused to take naps as a child.
Seriously, I take a weird kind of pleasure in snoozing while fishing. Other guys are roaring around the lake, doing their darnedest to catch every fish out there.
Meanwhile, imp in a cove snoring.
Weird.

[Allen Morgan]

How did I miss this thread when it was originally posted?!?!?!?!

Many of you all that read my posts and look at my pictures know that I am a dyed-in-the-wool multi-species fisherman.  There are days I target Sunfish (not just 'gills), days I target LMBs, days I target Catfish, and days that I will target whatever happens to be biting at one of my favorite holes.

I typically break my fishing down into two categories.  Those are usually done as a "Day-off" fishing, and "I have a few minutes" fishing.  "Day-off" fishing is usually intended to put some meat on the table (or in the freezer).  "I have a few minutes" fishing is exactly that, I have a few minutes, an hour at the most, to find someplace close to where I am, or on the way home, where I can see if the fish are willing.

"I have a few minutes" fishing trips usually means I'm targeting "Sunfish".  That used to mean worms under a float, just to feel a pull on my rod, etc.  For several years, that also included a small handful of proven lures.  Lately, I've gotten into fly fishing.  Man, what a hoot!  Sunnies go nuts for bugs.  There have been times I've watched folks fishing near me with lures and/or soft plastics, getting totally skunked, while I'm putting on a clinic using a fly.

Sometimes, on my "Day-off" fishing trips, if the bite is bad, I'll go ahead and move to some spot where I know I can get into some sunnies.

I know what Tony means about "being productive".  Most of my work-day, and around-the-house time has me trying to be productive.  Fishing is an escape for me.  Especially when I take my kayak out for a paddle.  While I like to bring some fish home for dinner, it's not required.

The only time I target a specific species of sunfish is when I'm catching bait for Flathead Catfish.  I like to use Green Sunfish for that, as they are a hardy bait that can and will live for hours on the hook.  Otherwise, I'm perfectly happy with "whatever bends my pole".  Heck, when I go chasing Flatheads, most of the time, I end up catching Gar.  Not my intended target, definitely NOT going to eat them, but I do enjoy the fight.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Gar some good eatin son!
(Alright I've never actually eaten any - eeeeew! But I've heard they are good...)

[Craig Thoreson]

I enjoy the peace of being out in the water and enjoying my time with mother nature no matter what she has in store for me. 

[Eric Pierce]

I'm one of the new kids on the block, but if you all don't mind, I'll put my two cents in on the subject. To be honest, I haven't been fishing in a long time. First work got in the way. Kinda hard to fish from the interstate doing 55 to 70 mph in a semi, haha. Then I found out I had colon cancer and was in the hospital for over two months due to complications. Well to make a long story short, to me fishing is about enjoying the bounties the good Lord provided for us. I think it's great if you want to target just BG, or large BG, or any other species as far as that may go. Me myself, if I am lucky enough to catch the fish I am targeting, or an other species I feel great. If it is one that I'm not interested in at that particular time then by all means turn it loose so it can grow, and maybe someone else can catch it and make their day. I enjoy every day that I'm not in a box in the ground pushing up daisies....If I get so called skunked...hey man I'm still happy as I got to enjoy a beautiful day, whether it was a blue bird kinda day or one that the wind pushed the rain....I will close saying it's about enjoying life, the fishing and fish caught, targeted or not, are all pluses...tight lines to every one.