Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

... a record for the smallest bluegill caught on a hook. Snagged this little guy yesterday:

MINI GILL

Hook - size 16

Bait - small bit of redworm

18"  below slip float.

Some people are starting to be interested in microfishing, i.e., catching the SMALLEST fish possible. This one may qualify for some microfishing record!

Views: 2929

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Dave

 

That's what's I'm talking about . I'm guessing 2 inches . Maybe we need to start our own leader board.

 

Bet it was fun

 

 

 

@joe... Well it bears sitting at home! I prefer to catch monster gills, but I enjoy any challenge. This little guy was a creeper... I didnt know he was on until I was reeling in. I had gone to the smaller hook because I was being robbed with the larger one I had started out with. The smaller hook let me catch and see what I was up against.

That lunker must go close to 3 inches! ;-)  I caught one even smaller than that in South Dakota years ago (Sheridan Lake, Black Hills National Park). There were tiny bluegill holding beneath some floating weed just a couple feet beneath the bank. They seemed to snatch at anything that went past them, so I dangled a tiny gold-plated hook (a salmon egg hook, IIRC, but this is a memory over 30 years old, so...) and after jigging it a bit, I caught one on a bare hook. Probably about 2" long :-)

Years ago I would have taken this little peeler home and put it in an aquarium. Back in the day, I had a couple of large fish tanks going, mostly holding native bluegill. They would eat almost anything, from cat food to insects taken from the yard. When they got big, I'd release them and add new ones.

We had a 'smallest bluegill' catagory at the Piney Run Panfish Derby, where I used to work. All-time record small for the event was 1 3/16 inches.

Now that's a dink!

I could'a been a contender, Jim!

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
19 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"I found an influx of salt water in some creeks and the bite was muted, moved inland to locate better water conditions and it paid off.."
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We finally started settling down from crazy water level swings from Hurricane Erin, coolest surface temps in August in 15 years here…"
20 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

augpick

"Distinct colors and markings……pretty chain pickerel……"
20 hours ago
John Sheehan posted photos
22 hours ago
John Sheehan posted a photo
22 hours ago
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Me too ,Jeff!"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Picture of our Water Level Impacted by Hurricane Erin….8/26/2025

You see where I placed the yellow circle we lost two feet of water level which empties many…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"I enjoy using small tackle…..I always go to it when the water temperature dips below…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

late augspoongill

"Having a little fun with the gills….."
yesterday
John Sheehan posted photos
yesterday
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"This Bass was wound  , Dick. High 70-80 degree water temp."
Aug 21
John Sheehan commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I hear ya Dick ,but its been a long time finding numbers of these great critters for me !"
Aug 21
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

md august shore 2

"I can take these all night long."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

Mid August shore

"Nice LMB."
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Aug 20
dick tabbert commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

We Dodged a Bullet on This Hurricane……8/20/2025

"I hope you continue being on the lucky side. Best to you Jeffrey."
Aug 20

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service