whats going on

[carter wireman]

Hello everyone
Two days ago me and two buds boated 214 gills all about the same size 7" off a lake that the temp was 70.9 not big but good eating and 92 of them were mine. it was none stop action fun fun.
a day later I went to my fav. lake witch is clean and clear as can be. when you get into them they are always 9.5" to 10". we got only 24 between two of us.
we seen beds everywhere and fish on all them but it was slow and they were spookish. water temp was 69 to 70. air temp was about the same both days.
My question is whats going on with the big pigs on my fav, lake any help would be great. I hope I didnt miss my honey hole.. thaks carter

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey Carter...I don't know what and how you caught the bigg gills at your favorite lake in the past, but gin-clear water usually means real spooky fish, of all species. Bluegills have very good eyesight, and the will often inspect a bait several seconds before they take, or reject, an offering. We had a tough time at Piney Run a few weeks back when the water was very clear and prespawn gills were moving shallow, feeding on a hatch, but willing to take a properly fished live earthworm. We use # 12 or # 14 hooks and hid the hook completely with the worm so they have no hint of a hook. Bronze hooks, lo-vis lines in 2 and 4 lb test, and no weight, just cast and hope it gets past the little guys.

The bait sinks slow and natural, hence, just about all the fish in the water column get to view it. I would make some long distance casts to the 'fringe' areas of the spawning activity and when you hook a fish, try and hustle it away from the rest of the spawers, so as not to spook the rest.

We've had bouts with small perch and gills, but we have caught some really impressive fish this year and we are fishing some really clear water conditions. I even wear camo at times and actually crawl on my hands and knees to some spawning beds so they don't see me.

Then again, 24 nice gills is not a "bad' day by any means.

Hope this helps... Jim

[Charles Singleton]

"Then again, 24 nice gills is not a "bad' day by any means."

No kidding! My typical day on the tanks around the house deliver from 0 - 8 gills - the whole morning! And the ones I catch run 3-7". I'm jealous. Wish I had a place to fish that delivered gills that size. :-(

[10.5" RES Sharon]

Wow, how long did it take you to clean all those fish? Or did you release most of them?