Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

I frequently fish a small local lake in my hometown of Antioch that shares the same name. This 77 acre gem is man made, and is a shallow dishpan type lake with a max depth of 10 ft.

 

Once a weed choked, and almost unfishable body of water, lake Antioch had only been a home to stunted 3-4" gills, and an occasional big Bass. Several years ago, lake management through local associations initiated a weed kill program that turned the lake around.

 

8-9" gills are now common, some with large eyes....and the Bass are bigger than ever.

Crappies, Perch, Pumpkinseeds, and BG/PS hybrids are also present.

 

What seems extremely odd to me is the 20-1 Female to Male ratio within the bluegill population.

For years we have selectively harvested generous numbers of females, and have religiously released all males....yet the ratio stays the same.

 

This particular body of water is private and unpressured......spawning beds have never been annually raided of its bulls....yet the ratio stays the same.

 

Is the gene pool corrupt?

Views: 3144

Comment

You need to be a member of Bluegill - Big Bluegill to add comments!

Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Comment by John Sheehan on May 2, 2011 at 2:20pm

In my home lake (Cupsaw),in Ringwood  NJ. I count 19 Male Gills and 5 Hens in my photos since ice out .With the catches that weren't photo'd I guess that somewhat more than 1/4 were hens

The hens are usually around 7"and Males 8"-8&1/2".

Comment by Jim Gronaw on April 26, 2011 at 4:47pm

Odd, but I have the same gig at one of my local ponds. Today I caught 52 bluegill and I'll bet that 45 of them were hens, and big girls at that. Most were over 9 inches and I had several 10's. This is a pond that suffered a notable fish kill last year that was almost all large bluegill. Yet the remaining gills seemed to have jumped up in size with only a few fish under the 8 inch mark. here's a few pics...

Comment by Eric White on April 24, 2011 at 9:16am
I would be interested in an answer. I fish an old granite quarry that filled in with water and was stocked with bluegills . I can catch 100 bluegills and out of that 5 might be males. No bass are present but large numbers of catfish are.

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"Great to hear Dick…..we’re doing great, healthy…..had an above average fishing…"
Friday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"Yes Jeffrey I'm doing good  Got a new gal and enjoying life again. I've been working…"
Friday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Labor Day Weekend Crab Boil….9/2/2024

"Thanks Dick…..it’s been a great summer in North Carolina for…"
Thursday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Another Nice Swampcracker…..8/24/2024

"Thanks Dick….hope you’re doing well…."
Thursday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thursday
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thursday
John Sheehan commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

SAME DAY DIFFERENT FISH

"Photos - Bluegill - Big Bluegill (ning.com) Bill Trussell check out the Green Sunfish photos,…"
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

SAME DAY DIFFERENT FISH

"Green Sunfish "
Wednesday
John Sheehan commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Bill, yeah, a big smallmouth would be a great fight, The tenacity of Smallies is amazing!"
Wednesday
Bill Trussell commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"John The largest fish I have ever landed using the fly rod- my only regret is it not being a bass,…"
Wednesday
Bill Trussell commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Bruce Yes, it's quite a challenge using my 3 wt."
Wednesday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"That had to be a lot of fun on the fly rod."
Tuesday
John Sheehan commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Wow, great fight .Especially on a 3 wt. Fly Rod! They are powerful Fish!"
Tuesday
Bill Trussell commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Tracy I never use a six or five wt. in this lake because I never land a fish worthy of a heavier…"
Monday
Bill Trussell commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"Jeffrey I didn't keep the fish, I gave it to the guy you see in the background pic. I have a…"
Monday
tracy willis commented on Bill Trussell's blog post Catfish on the Fly
"very nice play on a 3wt.  i use a 6wt for my bluegill fly fishing.  i tangle with a few…"
Sep 2
Bill Trussell posted a blog post

Catfish on the Fly

Guys, I landed this catfish in April of this year using my 7 1/2 ft. 3 wt. fly rod. I have only…See More
Sep 2
Bill Trussell commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

SAME DAY DIFFERENT FISH

"James, it's good to be back with you guys; I assume a greenie is a type of bluegill. "
Sep 2
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Labor Day Weekend Crab Boil….9/2/2024

The North Carolina blue crab harvest has been above average this year….and the overall quality is…
Sep 2
Bill Trussell commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

This One a Little Lighter Than Most on This Day…8/19/2024

"Thanks, Jeffrey good to be back with you guys. I see you are still landing-nice size…"
Sep 2

© 2024   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service