Thanks Dick. The same goes for you my friend. I am a student of the sport and I am always open to learn new things. I am more than willing to share what little bit I know with anyone willing to listen.

Thank you for the nice welcome Dick . I haven't nosed around here much ,but it seems like a great site for Gills

Jim

Thank you for the welcome Dick.  I am by no means a seasoned angler but have an interest in bream and crappie fishing.  When I found this website, I was pleased.  Hoping this place will either teach me added skill or point me where to learn some tricks to tryout from better experienced anglers.  Thanks again!

Thank you !!!
I have been tying flies since the age of 6, 54 years now. I have recently become very interested in 'bluegills', having fished al over the continent for trout species. Of course, in my travels I have caught some other fish including bluegills but they have never been a focus. I recently became ill and it is likely that my range of fishing locations will be restricted to closer waters. I really enjoy the challenge of finding 'fish waters' in my area and the little 'jet fighters' are certainly going to fill a void have been experiencing for a couple years now (my fishing has been limited).
I look forward to this site and learning a few tricks of the trade. It is possible that I maybe able to share a few of my 'tricks' (fly related) along the way.

Won't have much to post or comment for awhile. I could have used the screen name "The Searcher" for the near future.

Thanks again for the welcome.

The Highwayman

Thank you for the warm welcome. I 'm the president of a local fly fishing club and we enjoy fishing for bluegills most of the year.

Thank you for allowing me to join this group

Thanks for the welcoming comments.Most of my gill fishing is 

done ice fishing and I have been a fly tier for a long time,so the patterns

will be of real interest to me.Thanks again.

Reg

Dick, I want to say "Thank You" for the kind Welcome note and information you sent me about joining this pan fish web sight , I didn't realize until the other day this Great web sight exited. I live in southern Minnesota and the only fish I fish for are Bluegill and crappie, most other people here fish walleye or bass and long forgot the fun they had pan fishing (there mistake). Two years ago I put all my casting rods away and have gone 100% to fly fishing and this winter I started fly tying (keep me sane thru the long winter) and now I can't wait for the ice to go off the lakes and get back on the water. Again "Thanks" for the Best Sight on the web about my favorite fish. Gary

Thanks for the warm welcome!  I am mainly interested in crappie fishing.  I grew up in Western Maryland and we fished for crappies in Deep Creek Lake  at night when I was in High School.  We hung a coleman lantern from a beam in the bridge and fished off a pier of the bridge.  The floor of the bridge was solid material at that time and provided shade which we felt the crappies liked. Then they put a new metal floor on the bridge which had an open metal pattern and took away the shade and the fishing really slowed down.  I moved away and didn't fish for crappies for many many moons and finally decided to get back into it again.  I went on the internet and saw a guide listed at Buggs Island here in Va. named Keith Wray, called him up and eventually went fishing with him in February a couple of years ago and what a great day we enjoyed.  Of course I think he caught 5 fish for every one I caught, but I really enjoyed the trip.  Since then I've had some major health problems but now I'm looking to get out again.  I've been stocking up on some equipment, pouring and painting some jigs  and have some great expectations.  Thanks again for the warm welcome.  To Dick Tabbert 

thank u dick ill try to contribute to the site and visit often  gary chapman

Appreciate the warm welcome Dick, and I also would like to "Thank You" for this outstanding site, which I've only recently stumbled upon. What an absolute wealth of information being shared here, and in a civil manner as well, which is refreshing to see as compared to some other boards these days. Seems like a fine bunch of Folks here!

I'm learning to navigate the site a bit now, as it is set up a bit differently from others I frequent, but that is own shortcoming ... let's just say that I'm not the most computer literate person around :-) Look forward to participating and contributing when I can.

YB   

Hey Dick,

 Thanks for the great welcome and the bounty of information about this site!

I am looking forward to being a member on this site. Bream fishing has always been a big part of my life. Louisiana is my native state and cut my teeth on fishing techniques at a very young age in my life. At present I now reside in Colorado where fishing is also good ,but not like the creeks, rivers, bayou`s, of the south!

I look forward to interacting with members and hopefully offering a few tidbits on fishing for the "Ferocious" Big Blue Gill"

Hey Dick ,caught my first ice out mess of fish with three float setups with three sizes of your jigs .They worked a charm! All small Gills, Pseeds Yellow Perch and one PSXBG. Only one fish untipped ,a small Perch, but I just needed a small bit of worm on the tiniest jig and pushed way up on the hook caught plenty . You're saving me money on bait pal ! I'll post a pic of the rigs and your jigs that caught . Thanks again pal for your excellent work and I'll be asking questions regarding materials used when I post the pics !

whoa... your a busy guy this morning!

Thank you Dick for the welcome and the information.

I have been a Bluegill fisherman since I was knee high to a grasshopper and been checking out the site for about a couple of weeks and do see lots of good info here. I have been looking for different ways to catch Bluegills besides the old standard worms\crawlers and a bobber that will put more in the boat. My fishing time is limited as I have to drive at least 20 miles to get a good lake to fish, so most week nights are out, which leaves just weekends and with hopefully good weather. My fishing partner is a party popper and she does not like to do much on week nights and hard for me to launch the boat by myself, besides I am not much into fishing alone.

Younger years I did a lot of fishing on a small lake called Houghton (okay not really a small lake) that my grandparents lived on and we used to catch some really nice gills. Grandpa was the best at it that I ever saw, and he could locate them, but he knew the lake also. Christmas and spring breaks in High school and college I was always there fishing with him, my uncle and dad. Largest gill I remember was one my dad caught it curled up in the bottom of a 5 gallon pail, over 11” long and caught ice fishing never did get a photo of it. Biggest gill I have caught was a 10.5” and weighed one pound 3 oz. won a fishing pole with it. Have the photo some place and need to find it and scan it.

Thanks again remember a bad day fishing still better than good day at work. 

Hi, and thank you for such a nice welcome to the Big Bluegill site.  I've visited numerous times and am looking forward to being able to post.

Thank you sir!

Thanks Dick.

I'll start by adding some pictures of Gills my wife and I caught.  We joined a fishing club with 8 lakes three years ago.  Most everyone fishes for Bass so that leaves the real fishing to us.

Dick,  Thanks for the welcome.  I came across the site while searching for information on post spawn bluegills.  I fish a local lake that has a good supply of nice bluegills, pumpkinseeds, some green sunfish and crappies.  I want to learn how to take fish from the weeds during the dog days of summer.  I'm sure there will be a wealth of information on this site. 

Thanks for the welcome, I love to fish for all types of bream. Can you tell me how I can find other members that are from South Carolina?

Can you tell me of some big bull lakes near mercer wi

Thanks for the welcome Mr. Tabbert. I have long been a pan fish fanatic. Ultra lite and fly fishing. Do all of my fishing out of a kayak. Hope others on here do also. Again thanks so much. I look forward to further discussions on this site.

  Thanks for the welcome Dick Tabbert I found this site searching for videos on Bill Modica's spoon feeding techniques.

  Found a lot on BBG and also found a 2 hour presentation on Youtube

 that he gave to a fishing club in IL.  I live in Wisconsin and I am a former member of the Okauchee Fishing Club.  The fishing knowledge that can be learned from sharing in a club or on a site like yours would take a lifetime to do on your own.

  Thank's again Dave Binney

Dick it is always great to chat with you about our fishing exploits and love to chat with you. I am gonna decline the invite to your group because I am strictly a shore fisherman except for my chest waders. I just wouldn't be able to contribute to the group very well and seek to be able to actively contribute. Sorry. Maybe we can rack our heads and get a group going together about some other aspect of gilling.

Dick, 

Thanks for the add to BBG.  As you probably know already, I'm a relatively new BG chaser.  But I keep after em all the time trying to get out and fish 2 or 3 times a week.  I am pretty much stuck with fishing retention ponds right now, and have to deal with weeds and hot water.  Using a 3,5 and 7/8 weight flyrod I've learned how to cast, make a halfway decent presentation, and hit my mark while casting.  I've also gotten into fly tying and am constantly looking for patterns that I can use here in NE Illinois.

I am no stranger to fishing at all.  I've got a 17' boat with a 115hp merc on it, just cant afford to haul it to the rivers and lakes around here.  I've tried bass fishing years ago, but found it was way more work to do than I cared for.  I absolutely love to crappie fish, and can spend an entire day anchored up and drowning a minnow without a care in the world.  I also get out on Lake Michigan once in a while and troll for Salmon and Steelhead.

So, as time passes, I hope I can contribute to the collective here.

Be well and tight lines.

Roger

 Thank you Dick for the kind welcome. Bluegill have always been a favorite since my youth and still love catching them. Ive recently got into fly fishing and fly tying and have had great success fishing for bluegill on the fly.  I've got plenty of photo's and footage of my fishing escapades and hope to bring something unique to the table here on Big Bluegill.

Shannon;; we have on bbg site a few guys who raise bluegills;; pond management  is a passion for them.  Walt Foreman;; Tony Livingston;; and Dick Tabbert;;  not to mention;; Bruce Condello....  my bet is;; these guys could answer your questions on raising pond bluegill !!    yep;; knew there was something about you kind of special;;  your from Alabama to !!!

to my understanding;; a new world record blue gill was caught not long ago in Az.;; weighting  just under 6 pounds;; length around 17 inches;; girth around 19 inches.    look up world record blue gill; it gives the stats on it; and who caught it..

Brito.jpg

It was a red ear, 5 lbs 12.8 0z. 17" long.

Dick,  I thank you for your info concerning acquiring a fish/depth finder.  I know I should have had one long before this, but since joining this site, I have changed a lot of things about the way I have fished for bluegills in the past!!  This is an amazing site, and I keep picking up all kinds of info each time I am on it.  Thanks to fellas like yourself, and all the others on here that have offered help/opnions.  I definately am going to start doing some research on the different models, and have one in my arsenal very soon.  Thanks again.

Thanks for the add, looking forward to participating

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Hi Dick,

Thanks for the warm welcome.  I am an avid fisherman for all species but love to catch big bluegill.  I used to manage small lakes and ponds for friends of mine many years ago and then work and life got busy.  I am about to retire and have time to fish more and work less.  Just dug a 1 1/2 acre pond on my son's property and love all the latest info on stocking  recommendations and bluegill strains. 

I am in the chemical business and spend a lot of time doing different types of water analysis.  Looking forward to creating the perfect pond full of big bluegill, readear and bass. 

where should I send the locations of my secret spots?  Are you going to the RENDEVOUX on KY lake?  I'll be there the week before so I can give you guys some recon which should help.

Jan.20, 2016

Hi, Dick

Thanks for the welcome to an ole Georgia boy who , believe it or not is an almost complete novice to bluegill fishing! Unlike the majority of the Forum members, I have a LOT to learn and ,while I look forward to it, you guys may regret having your, 'brains picked' at such basic levels !!

  I will post more to the main board. Thanks again for your welcome.

Best,

Walt Romine

Dick,   Have been looking around at spinning rods and reels. What do know(and think about) the following;

   Rod:   Eagle Claw Featherweight in lengths 6.6',6',5.6' or 6' lengths

                      about $20.00 on Cabela's site

  Reels:   Shiamano Sienna

              Cabela's Fish Eagle

              Abu Garcia Cardinal S

              Okuma Safina Pro

              Shimano Syncopate  (has 'Quick- Fire II  one hand release)

                         All around $30.00 on Cabela's sight

Would appreciate your thoughts on any of these or others

Hi Dick'

Thank you for your very kind email. Being along out here in the deeeeeep woods of Western Michigan and no TV or radio, its a bit lonely for this old great grandpa. but with spring just a short few weeks away, I busy gettiing  my grandsons and my three great grandsons earer to go fishing with their old daudy (grandfather).  We have our own ponds here on my horse ranch here in Western Michigan and my growing list of eager fisherman are truly looking forward in me taking them fishing in one of my special blue gill and large mouth bass ponds here on my ranch. i wish i knew how to send pictures of our record breaking blue gilld and large mouth bass, but i don't know how to add pictures to my text r and my grandchildren are Amish and are not fimiller with web stuff. if i send pictures it will have to be by snail mail and someone else can post the pic's for us.

luv for now

gregory usmc, ret

Thanks for the warm welcome. Been chasing all varieties of our favorite critters for many years.

I live in Southern Indiana just a couple hundred yards off Patoka Lake which used to be a great panfish lake before gizzard shad was introduced some years ago. We now have lots of stunted fish making it hard to get enough fileting size to make a meal.

Fortunately we have many smaller lakes and lots of strip pits that are full of nice size fish.

Also fish Lake Barkley in Ky for those big old gills and redears that inhabit that great fishery.

Think spring everyone that is not ice fishing!

Robert "bob" Porter