300+ Bluegills - Cold Water Bite

Comment

Comment by Johnny wilkins on April 28, 2011 at 8:52am

You are correct that there is no limit on these on that water  I fished, but I released all of them in great health after this picture, a dip in the water and a quick count.

 

This was :20 minutes outside Chicago's city limits on the DuPage river.  Post coldfront and cold, heavy rain. Since I had to deal with an overhanging tree, I couldn't get a clean cast or even a clean retrieve on these fish. It took me twice as long to bring these fish in, using a big, swinging-horizontal "c" motion. 

 

I had to swing them out, around the tree and then back into me. It was a lot of work - I am still feeling the affects of this. I also fished about 1/8th of the session left-handed because that was the hand that was furthest from the tree.

 

Regarding the no limit- much of the urban areas has either no limit, a limit that has little impact or lack of enforcement. The end result is a lot of stunted fish and not many larger fish. My group is going to fish a catch-and-release only lake in May- it will have some of the largest gills in our region and the bag will be a lot bigger in mass, weight and probably numbers - we'll see... the fish will decide that - I can only do so much.

Comment by Tom (Gutpyle) Swit on April 28, 2011 at 8:05am

I take it there is no limit on these. Where was this???

Comment by Johnny wilkins on April 25, 2011 at 7:10pm

All but 3 were released alive - I usually fish catch-and-release around my fishing spots. When they stock trout, I take some fish but most of the year I am feeding them, counting them and releasing them.

I have a 12' long x 2.5 foot wide keep net they remain in until I am done fishing. After this photo they are put in fresh water and then I count them out of the fresh water to keep them healthy during and after counting.

Comment by Greg Wade on April 25, 2011 at 6:53pm

Johnny,

Were those fish released alive back into the lake?