Do you love big bluegill?

Bruce Condello with nearly 3 pound bluegill caught at Richmond Mill on GoPro camera

Bruce Condello fishing Richmond Mill Lake in North Carolina, catches a 2.79 pound bluegill on GoPro camera.

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Comment by Bruce Condello on May 9, 2012 at 8:23pm: ...but you know Jacob, you give me a good moment to mention these things. I hope nobody thinks I post pictures based on my ego or pride. It's just really about the fun involved in seeing how big these wonderful creatures get. I realize I'm truly privileged to be able to fish in lakes that have really big bluegill, and I'm humbled that y'all let me post the pictures and videos...but let it be known that I get unbelievably excited in all of your exploits, and trials, and adventures, and successes. I feel like I have this amazing group of friends who each seem to have their own special qualities that make this such a neat community. Jacob, I'm really glad you're here! :-) Keep fishin'!

Comment by Bruce Condello on May 9, 2012 at 8:19pm: Noooooo, Jacob!!!! Don't be!!!! When I'm in a pond catching tons of 6-7 inch bluegill, I will LOSE MY MIND over a 9-inch fish!! And I didn't catch my first ten inch bluegill until I was waaay into my thirties. It's all relative to your current situation..in any fishery, the goal is to have fun, then try to catch the bigguns within any given population. Seriously, the other day we were going crazy over a 9.5 incher caught in the quarry. Just because it was the king of the day.

Please don't let my goofy pictures embarras or discourage you in ANY WAY. :-)

Comment by Jacob Hill on May 9, 2012 at 7:32pm: Wow Bruce, I feel embarrassed for every bluegill I've ever caught in my entire life.

Comment by Greg McWilliams on May 9, 2012 at 7:14pm: How Deep were you fishing or did I miss that??? How Do flyrodders fair in the FISHING HOLE??????? Like the BROGE!!!!!! LOL

Comment by Tony Livingston on May 9, 2012 at 5:15pm: I fish almost solely with mono. I do have one reel spooled up with P-line's Floroclear, and it does alright, just tends to float too much for a few techniques I like to use. I've tried braid, but for Bluegill fishing I always come back to mono. I'm with Bruce, I like the "bounce" that mono provides, and factor in the price..... mono wins for me everytime. I'm currently fond of Sufix Elite. Very good stuff.

Comment by Patrick "Bullworm" Olson on May 9, 2012 at 5:06pm: Simply AMAZING!!!! Thanks Bruce for sharing!

Comment by Allen Morgan on May 9, 2012 at 4:57pm: ROFL. I'm just about a polar opposite. I've got braid on most of my reels. I have completely respooled exactly one reel with new braid, and that was the longest-serving reel in my lineup. A couple others have had the line reversed. I attach a swivel to a chain-link fence, open the bail, and start walking. Some of my reels hold so much line I have to go around the house and almost back to my starting point. Cut the line where the Albright knot connects backing to braid, have one of my kids hold it, then go grab the end attached to the fence, cut the swivel, tie a new Albright knot, and start reeling.

Now, for the one pole that has mono, my UL, I usually switch that every year or so. I don't use it much.

Comment by Bruce Condello on May 9, 2012 at 4:47pm: Good suggestion, Allen. I have tried that in the past and it was quite successful. I am, however, one of those weird people who likes to change out my line after every visit. I buy a couple of bulk spools every year, and change out the line after every trip. I love the stretch in mono...it's very forgiving of all the mistakes I make. :-)

Comment by Allen Morgan on May 9, 2012 at 4:43pm: Bruce, how about using 10 lbs test braid, with a 4 lbs test (or lighter) mono leader, to cut down on how much line stretch you have? I have two set-ups with this. It works great for a lot of different things.