Giant bluegill using the Modica spooning method.

[Bruce Condello]

Here's a massive bluegill caught on Bill "Musky" Modica's spooning method.  This method has been heavily featured lately by In-Fisherman Magazine, both in print and on their nationally acclaimed fishing show.

 

This fish was over a foot long, and looked like it was taking steriods.  I'd love for Bill to describe this particular spoon and why he likes it so much.  Bill recommended I use this setup, and it worked like a charm.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Wander if anyone has tried the Spoon technique on Richmond Mill yet Bruce......just makes you think what if? I'll be waiting for the Coppernose photos......The fish pictured are jaw dropping!

[Bruce Condello]

...and the bite was VERY slow otherwise.  These fish are obviously well fed, but they couldn't resist the spoon.  Used a little black and green "tippage". :-)

[Bruce Condello]

Believe it or not, those are all standard "northern strain" bluegill.  But the spoon method also worked great on the coppernose.  There's a lot more photos to come.  We simply walked the shoreline, and cast to the deepest water in the pond.  Probably worked so well because these fish are heavily into eating fish.  Fatheads, gambusia, and shiner fry all end up in the bluegill belly each day.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

You can't top testimony supported by the photos of huge gills! ....Awesome fish Bruce! 

[Tony Livingston]

I forgot to ask.... machrochirus, purpurescens, or Condello strain?

They're so dark, it's hard to tell.

[Leo Nguyen]

Wow, look the size of that little guy. If we haul something like that out of our water, we'll be shooting fireworks. Just truly unreal gill.

[Tony Livingston]

Bruce, those fish are unreal. Spawning, or deeper water casting/trolling?

If spawning, do they tend to congregate at the center of the nesting colony, like the largest males do, and were those particular fish's nests larger than what you would consider "average"?

Meaning, do you find the size of the nest an accurate visual indicator, as far as the size of the fish that made it, to help determine where to cast, when you're in search of a giant?

[Tim Overbaugh]

Some more goliath gills from Bruce. On a jigging spoon!  A good method to weed out the smaller fish.

I hope Bill chimes in and it would be cool to hear the particulars on how Bruce landed these two brutes.

Great catch! 

[John Sheehan]

They look like the Olmec statues !

[Bruce Condello]

Here's another shot of two insanely big bluegill that fell to the Modica technique.