What state would you choose to fish Bluegill if you could only pick one?

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

We are fortunate to have members from all over this great nation...One of my favorite things about Bigbluegill.com is the instant connection with the people that love and enjoy the same things that I do when it comes to all things Bluegill from folks all over the country.....Many of us have also had the great experience of fishing several different states whether vacationing, traveling for work or as a result of moving..... If you could pick one state to fish Bluegill, what state would it be and why? Thanks for sharing and I expect this may be a difficult choice for some and very easy for others.....Again, thanks in advance!

[Kelly Peterson]

Just read through this entire thread and enjoyed hearing everyone's responses.

Well since my home state is Wisconsin and its color is green have to go that way. Have also fished gills in SE Iowa and hoping to add S Illinois real, real soon(if the weather holds). Some of the lakes here in N WI have really nice gills and some gill/seed crosses. To date my grandson has the biggest one that I've posted the picture of before(think it is on my page of photos.) We are totally bait/bobber fishers(sorry, just can't seem to catch them on flies under bobbers and don't like fly fishing) with leeches are by far the most effective, red worms next. Still use hooks but most times these days we use jigs instead because they hold the bait vertically. Slip floats or fixed sometime depending upon the depth we have to fish. For rods I like to use 8 foot fly rod blanks made into spinning rigs aka Bill Binkleman's Nightcrawlers Secrets rods.

Since I am retired now, the house and all its remodel are done and everything is settled now from our move here from Iowa last year when wife retired should have more time to fish. Love walleye fishing but our limit is 3 fish from 15"-20" it gets pretty slim pickings(too much spearing and gil netting going on via the native indian tribes via Treaty Rights. So am going to do more bluegil fishing because of greater limit and more availability. It is a lot more fun catching fish, even if they are small, than not catching any or maybe 1-2 in a day trip.

Ice fishing is ok but more difficult finding the bigger ones through the ice than from a boat. Will do some this winter but wife and I are not liking the real cold we can get up this way so am sure we are going south more often and will take the boat with us from now on. It sure would be fun in my eyes to fish anywhere for bluegil in open water when one doesn't have to be dressed like an Eskimo like we have to be now.

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Nice read Kelly and thanks for your input........give me a shout if your journey takes down to the Carolina way.......non-resident friendly state and the bluegill fishing ain't too bad these days........Hope you guys enjoy your retirement and look forward to your continued input on the site!

[paul sach]

Without a doubt the state I reside in FLORIDA ....can fish for Gills 12 months out of the year, coopernose are larger in size, being a more mature or older Bluegill, some go 1/2-1 lb on average and on ultralight tackle both fly and spinning there is no better sport than targeting these great fighting panfish ...,been using 4'6 St croix premier rod wth a vintage Daiwa 500c with a 4 weight nanofil line lately, waiting for delivery of a TFO Fw F/S 601-2, carry an extra reel and lures or flies depending on what the fish are hitting on and switch whenever the need occurs, I know the question relates to Bluegills but I'll add some really good invasive fish spices habitat the waterways down here also, cichlids, Oscars, war mouths are fun fighting fish that have been illegally introduced into the waters, if you catch one you can't put it back you have to kill it, steep dollar fine if caught by FLorida dept of fish and wildlife ...its sub tropical down here in south Florids so it's always nice and warm, the lakes, ponds, canals and retention areas are all filled to capacity so the fishing has been good and should remain same, you gents up north come on down you'll love it !!

[Bruce Tomaselli]

Paul a

I believed I asked this question before, but are those bluegill considered fresh water down in your state of Florida?

[paul sach]

Bruce ...they sure are Freshwater Bluegills in the waterways down here in south Florida, there are bream, large mouth bass, to name a few of the natural inhabitants of the fresh waters here and there are some size able Gills taken also .....

seasons greetings to all forum members !!

Paul

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

I like the warm weather Paul.......

[David Devine]

My hands down favorite place doesn't qualify it's in Ont. Canada. Rice Lake. Spring spawn 100 fish a day and lots of 9s to 10s.Dave

[dick tabbert]

Wow last time I was in Canada they considered Bluegills junk fish till I brought a mess in cleaned then and cooked them there mines changed quickly. 

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

That's cool David......Did you make it up there this year and how was it?

[Tony Livingston]

New regs for Rice Lake:

New Fishing Regulations on Rice Lake for 2010 regarding Sunfish, Bluegill or Pumpkinseed will now have the following limits for Rice Lake and Zone 17. If you have a Sport Fishing License the maximum number of fish is 300 with only 30 greater than 18cm or 7.1”inches. If you have a conservation license the limit is 15 pan fish of any size. 

[Jeffrey D. Abney]

Interesting ............I wonder what the cost/requirement difference is in the two licenses........

[Ray]

Any place state that is frozen! I love pulling big bull gills through an 8" hole in the ice!