Sean kerley's Posts - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-28T16:12:36Zsean kerleyhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/seankerleyhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2192398638?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://bigbluegill.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=33766u6l01zg8&xn_auth=noSmall Pondtag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2015-08-10:2036984:BlogPost:6263482015-08-10T01:33:49.000Zsean kerleyhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/seankerley
<p>I bought an inflatable boat the other day to try to get out after some of the bigger fish that I'm guessing are away from the shoreline here in August. (really shallow pond, maybe 4 acres, a couple of 7 foot holes, but mostly about 3-5 feet. Been catching a TON of tiny 'gills, redear and yellow perch on the shoreline).</p>
<p>I spent a whole day out on the pond in my little boat. Fished downed limbs, submerged points, and the deepest holes I could find with ice jigs tipped with worm and…</p>
<p>I bought an inflatable boat the other day to try to get out after some of the bigger fish that I'm guessing are away from the shoreline here in August. (really shallow pond, maybe 4 acres, a couple of 7 foot holes, but mostly about 3-5 feet. Been catching a TON of tiny 'gills, redear and yellow perch on the shoreline).</p>
<p>I spent a whole day out on the pond in my little boat. Fished downed limbs, submerged points, and the deepest holes I could find with ice jigs tipped with worm and sometimes using 1 inch tubes. Still ended up catching a bunch of little ones, but I know from seeing other folks come off the water (and rare catches I've made from shore) there is a good population of really big bream and crappie in that pond. The only two decent fish I caught actually came from about 2 feet of water, right up against the shore. A fat redbreast was hanging out under the boughs of a tree and a 10 inch redear was in some slop right by a downed limb.</p>
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<p>Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong? I'm not used to fishing from a boat in freshwater, so ANY advice is greatly appreciated!</p>Military Appreciation Daytag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-12:2036984:BlogPost:4947902014-04-12T11:00:00.000Zsean kerleyhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/seankerley
<p>Hi folks! I'm posting this blog in the hopes that some of the members of BBG.Com will help get the word out about this event. So...what is Military Appreciation Day (MAD)?</p>
<p>It's really simple: It's just a thanks for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. You can read about the history of this event at <a href="http://www.militaryappreciationday.org">www.militaryappreciationday.org</a>.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, a group of volunteers (which now includes me!) gets…</p>
<p>Hi folks! I'm posting this blog in the hopes that some of the members of BBG.Com will help get the word out about this event. So...what is Military Appreciation Day (MAD)?</p>
<p>It's really simple: It's just a thanks for members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard. You can read about the history of this event at <a href="http://www.militaryappreciationday.org">www.militaryappreciationday.org</a>.</p>
<p>In a nutshell, a group of volunteers (which now includes me!) gets together and coordinates for boat owners and charter captains to volunteer their time to take these folks out into the briny. Currently, there are annual events in Southport NC, Morehead City NC, Hampton VA (this is the second year), and Lewes DE (first year).</p>
<p>Speaking from personal experience, it is a TON of fun. I did two events last year. The first one was so much fun that I did the second one even though it was only three weeks after foot surgery. (Yup, all my stitches came out while we were 30 miles offshore.) But I was on convalescent leave, and had a nice beard going, and had a great day! Here's a shot of me with a whiteboned porgy (I think).</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396298?profile=original" target="_self"></a> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396298?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="394" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396298?profile=original"/></a></p>
<p>So what can we do to help? We can get the word out! Most importantly, we need to let servicemembers know that this is available to them. We also need to find boat owners and charter captains/crews willing to help. Finally, we need to get businesses/folks to donate money. MAD is a nonprofit organization that survives on donations. These donations pay for gas, ice, bait, food and drink, and tackle/gear.</p>
<p>This first flier is to advertise for servicemembers' awareness.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220405712?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220405712?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a>This next one is to get Captains and Boat Owners to volunteer.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220405976?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220405976?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p>
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<p>Finally, this one is asking for donations.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220405944?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220405944?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a>Please, no matter where you are, the first flier can go up and let servicemembers know. Also the third flier, because the donations are setup through paypal...so folks can contribute from across the country. And if you live anywhere on the East Coast, please try to post that second flier to get boat owners and captains involved.</p>
<p>This is a great event, and it means a lot to those involved, both servicemembers AND volunteers!</p>
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<p>Thanks for reading this!</p>Great daytag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-04-05:2036984:BlogPost:4922522014-04-05T00:17:34.000Zsean kerleyhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/seankerley
<p>I finished work early today and headed out to my favorite pond. I tried a quill float for the first time, and that is all I'll ever use to hang ice jigs under unless I have no choice...that thing was so sensitive, and I realize that I have missed HUNDREDS of fish in the past because of my float.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396181?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396181?profile=original" width="296"></img></a> To start off, I caught this gorgeous fish with a chartreuse/black tube on…</p>
<p>I finished work early today and headed out to my favorite pond. I tried a quill float for the first time, and that is all I'll ever use to hang ice jigs under unless I have no choice...that thing was so sensitive, and I realize that I have missed HUNDREDS of fish in the past because of my float.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396181?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="296" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396181?profile=original"/></a>To start off, I caught this gorgeous fish with a chartreuse/black tube on a #12 ice jig. The action of that bobber was like a video game! I put her on the stringer with a couple of others from the same spot, tied it off to a stump and walked a little bit. That's when I heard the snaps on my stringer rattling violently.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396294?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="296" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396294?profile=original"/></a>This guy had one of my gills by the tail and was trying to make off with them. Big nasty snapping turtle. He was so stubborn that I had time to take a pic before I got my fish back. A couple of bite marks on the tail, but all three still in good shape, I went back to my car. I grabbed the bucket that my fish were going to end up in anyway.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396556?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="296" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396556?profile=original"/></a>This is what ended up going into the bucket. I had brought some crickets, but the fish wouldn't leave the ice jigs alone, so after awhile I just let all the crickets go. (Who wants to mess with insects when an artificial is working like this?)</p>
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<p>This is my sink with a day's catch in it...thank God I'm not married...I would've had to clean these outside!</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396668?profile=original" target="_self"></a> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396668?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220396668?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p>Catch it when you can!tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-03-23:2036984:BlogPost:4888332014-03-23T23:02:23.000Zsean kerleyhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/seankerley
<p>With the weather warm for a few days but a cold front settling in (again), I decided to get out on the leading edge of the front and see about some fish. Slow bite (The front got to the fish before I did) but the quality of fish was MUCH better than it has been. Glad I got my 'fix' cause it looks like no more fishing til at least Saturday. I wish we could go ahead and slip into a full time Spring pattern.</p>
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<p>I'm also noticing that at this private pond I've been fishing, the lily…</p>
<p>With the weather warm for a few days but a cold front settling in (again), I decided to get out on the leading edge of the front and see about some fish. Slow bite (The front got to the fish before I did) but the quality of fish was MUCH better than it has been. Glad I got my 'fix' cause it looks like no more fishing til at least Saturday. I wish we could go ahead and slip into a full time Spring pattern.</p>
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<p>I'm also noticing that at this private pond I've been fishing, the lily pads are going to be a big problem in the summer. It's still just the dead pads from last year, but I lost at least three nice gills today because of the lily pad stalks. Anyone got a suggestion other than braid? </p>
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<p>Here are a couple of the fish...<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220395856?profile=original" target="_self"></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220395856?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="296" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220395856?profile=original"/></a><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220395981?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="296" class="align-right" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2220395981?profile=original"/></a></p>Bass Saves the Daytag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2014-03-01:2036984:BlogPost:4821052014-03-01T21:31:28.000Zsean kerleyhttps://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/seankerley
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2117601457?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2117601457?profile=original" width="296"></img></a> So my son and I have decided on our new house...the one that I will retire from the Army in. And of course, I need to find the best Chinese takeout, pizza delivery, grocery store, and fishing spot within a few minutes of the new house. I keep going back to this particular pond that has given me a few nice 'gills and one baby bass so far.…</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2117601457?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="296" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2117601457?profile=original"/></a>So my son and I have decided on our new house...the one that I will retire from the Army in. And of course, I need to find the best Chinese takeout, pizza delivery, grocery store, and fishing spot within a few minutes of the new house. I keep going back to this particular pond that has given me a few nice 'gills and one baby bass so far.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Today, the pond gave me nothing using my normal techniques. So I decided to try dropshotting for the first time in my life. I must admit, I had little faith in the technique, especially from the bank.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">After tying my rig, inspecting it (as if I know whether it's right or not), and feeling several distinctive bluegill taps with no fish landed, I began to lose what little faith I had. Practically as a joke, I tossed the rig right into the middle of the thickest patch of lily pads I could find.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Now, this was my first time dropshotting, so I wasn't aware that the bite I had wasn't a 'gill. At first I thought that if it was a 'gill it might have a shot at a state record...many state record bream come from small ponds. But then I saw her...certainly not a bream, and yeah for a split second I was disappointed. But once I got her in my hand (after a near catastrophe in the reeds on the shoreline), I quickly made peace with it.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">This is certainly not my best ever LMB...but it's the best one I've ever caught on a 1/16th oz jig on 4lb line!</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">As for the 'gills...I reckon I'll get a few tomorrow!</p>