new member says hello.

[Tony Livingston]

Good evening all,
I've been swimming in the shallows here for almost a year now, and I've finally decided to move into deeper water and join this site. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and learning about my favorite fish from all you knowledgable folks, and I appreciate the fact that this site exists. I've spent many an hour reading through the earlier posts, trying to glean every morsel of information I can. I've been a bluegill fisherman for most of my 42 years, and I'm blessed to have a truly great fishery within 5 minutes walk of my home - right across the road. My in-laws own a former campground which has six ponds, all stocked with native bluegill, redear, bass, and catfish. the place has been a campground since the early seventies, but it's closed now since my in-laws have retired. There are some nice gills' here now, 8-9", but I would like to grow some truly bragging rights fish. I'm going to try my hand with some hybrid gills', and I'm sure I will be needing lots of help and advice. I was hoping some of the experts would be willing to extend their expertise, (and patience for an amateur bluegill fanatic), to me. I know this is a common topic for discussion, so I apologize in advance for what I'm sure will be cause for some rolling eyeballs, deep sighs, and the inevitable "Oh no, not again!) Many thanks for allowing me to to be a part of this group, I'm looking forward to corresponding with all of you!

[Bruce Condello]

Welcome, Tony!

We look forward to participating in your trophy quest.

Bruce

[shooter]

welcome to the best site of it's kind on the web Tony.






gator gravy anit bad

[Kiana Fitzpatrick]

Welcome, glad you decided to come out of the shallows!

[steve b]

Six ponds, big 'gills,etc.. blah blah blah, ok we get it. LOL, Where you hiding all this at ??? Howdy, and welcome. steve b

[Tony Livingston]

Hi everyone, thanks for the warm welcome! It's great to be among so many die-hard bluegill fans! It's gonna' be about six weeks before the hatchery has my hybrids ready, so that gives me some time to get setup here. I've got my cage built, 4'x4', so I can feed the new arrivals for a few weeks and grow em' up a little before I turn them out. Maybe it will help in their feed training also, if they're contained in the beginning? See, already with the questions!
Hey, Steve B, I'm in south-central Indiana, if you're ever in the area, give me a holler and we'll wet a line, always ready to fish!

[robsabloke]

I just wanted to say the same as Tony. I have been looking for a site like this for a long time.
Bluegill... Redear Etc are the "Pound for Pound" Champion of the Piscatorial World. They are usually the first fish we catch when we go with our Dads on our first fishing trip and they are the first fish to give us that 'Tingling' of excitement as they 'Tug' at the end of the line. I grew up in England and moved here when I was 25 and had to learn to fish American Style... it has been an education. I have learned American methods of fishing and I have taught many new friends the finesses of English fishing... many of which can be applied handily to the mighty Bluegill.

I look forward to participating in the Forum and thank whomever was responsible for making this site available.

Rob

[shooter]

the brits God bless them brought the fly and rod to the colonies,and for that i will for ever be grateful.
welcome rob




gators make good boots

[John Sheehan]

Are you kidding!You're great!

[Bluegill]

Welcome Tony!! So glad that you'd jumped into the deep end!

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey Tony, you might want to consider putting those hybrids in only one or two of those ponds to see how they do over a few seasons and then make an assessment for future efforts with them. Sometimes the aggressiveness of the hybrids can cause established bluegill populations some trouble if existing spawning areas are limited and the hybrids are enough in number to bully the native gills. Don't expect any amount of reproduction from the hybrids, but then they are for quick-growing, fast action with short-term trophy potential. I'd check in with Bruce Condello and see what he has to say on this effort. And, by the way, I do love big hybrid sunnies and have been fortunate to catch them nearing 2 pounds, so I know what you're after. Good Luck! Jim

[Tony Livingston]

Hi Jim, yeah the hybrids are only going into one of the ponds, it was a former swimming only pond, so the native gill' population is very small. (It was never "formally" stocked, just what fish "found" their way in through the years) I've been busy fishing out the resident Largemouth population, removing anything over 12" while maintaining a few of the 6-8" fish to control any hybrid reproduction. I'm approaching this strictly as a type of livestock experiment, if you will, a put and take operation not meant to be self-sustaining. By limiting myself to this particular pond I have the means to easily drain and start over if things get out of hand. The "brood" cage is built, the Aquamax 500 is here, all I need now is warmer water. 52 degrees yesterday!

[Greg McWilliams]

WELCOME ABOARD, TONY!!!!!!!! You are doing fine in the DEEP END!!!!!!!  :-)