Whats a big bluegill where you live?

[Mike]

Here in Connecticut just about everyone would consider a 9" Bluegill to be pretty big and the DEP considers 10" and up a trophy for catch and release awards.

 

Is this pretty uniform around the country or do some of you have higher standards?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Mike

[10.5" RES Sharon]

Here in TX, no one wants bluegill. They like bass or catfish. There are a few (on this site) who like them, but not many.

[Cliff Hilbert]

Sharon, you'd be surprised at how many bluegill fishermen there are all over Texas. There are several lakes, especially Fairfield, where bream are the major attraction, especially the coppernose.

 

In the Dallas area, a 10" bream is a nice one, a 12" one is a real trophy. Another fish that people catch a lot of here on ultra-light tackle in North Texas are crappie, which I've caught up to 2.75# on light tackle.

[10.5" RES Sharon]

Actually, I knew that. Just trying to get a  good discussion going. It's been kind of dead around bbg lately. Thanks for the response.

[Michael Cox]

Although I am too far away to fish it on a regular basis, I hope Fairfield recovers from the fish kill last year. I haven't heard any firsthand accounts from there yet but a couple of guys on the Texas Fishing Forum are going to try it out. I got my first two 10"+ gills last month on Calaveras lake down here in San Antonio. Texas does have a "big" fish program for bluegill and other sunfish which is 10". I have got a few redears over 12" but my biggest bluegill is 10.25".

[Bruce Condello]

In Nebraska 8 inches is nice, 9 inches is big, and 10-11 inches is trophy.

[Shawn Anderson]

Here in MN.,10 is trophy ( to me), 11 rare , but I have SEEN (not caught) a few 13" it is rare to find lakes in northern Minnesota to find lakes that consistently produce 11"+ but the search continues!!!

[Nathanael Deloach]

  I have the same opinion on Mn Gills Shawn, I consistantly keep 8-9"ers and catch alot of 9+"ers that get thrown back in hopes that they become a 10+" trophey.  I have heard of, but not seen in the Northern Mn region of 11+"ers being caught......I am still looking for those :-)

  When I lived in NC 11+"ers were considered trophies.  I caught many 10.75" fish but could never seem to get over that 11" hump.  My opionion on trophey Gills is that you need to find the right lake/pond. Just about every region in the country has a trophey Gill lake where 9+"ers are found.  For those that have trouble getting into those Trophies keep exploring, with a  little persistance and patience you will find them eventually! Heres a tip, find a lake with a healthy large mouth population and your chances of finding bigger Gills will go up. :-)

[John Sheehan]

8"ers are common .Over  8&1/2" -9 "is rare for around here in NE New Jersey 9-10" exciting rarity  . Over 10 " now that's a King.

[John Cachel]

8 inch is big around Chicago and biggest I caught is 9.5 inch released near Chicago! 10 inch is big but very rare! 11 inch is trophy and 12 inch is a lifetime trophy for my wall!

[Troy Dorman]

Here in Southern Indiana,  an 8 inch bluegill is a keeper, a 9 inch bluegill is a big gill and the rare 10 inch plus gill is really a trophy IMO. I've recently found a small public lake that I've caught several 10 inch gills out of, again, it's a rarity to catch those hawg gills. A 9 inch bluegill is really a big gill in my neck of the woods. 

 

Redear are a different story though, I typically target redear instead of bluegill and we routinely catch ears between 10-11.5 inches. These are terrific fighters and much thicker than bluegill on average.

[josh]

What do you differently to "target" redears?  I just posted a discussion on that very topic.  I'm looking to tease a few redear out of a good-gill-decent-crappie hole that is known to contain large (elusive) redear.

[Patrick "Bullworm" Olson]

I agree with my buddy Shawn! A double digit gill in Minnesota is a great fish! We have such a short growing season that it hinders the growing of true FREAKS! There are some lake however that do contain 12 plus gills but, those are on the top secret list!