Thread: Bluegills, 5-12

I finally got a chance to get back on the water. We've had some inconsistent spring weather in these parts and I wanted to get after the 'gills at spawning time. To be honest, I'm not sure if it's just starting or just ending. I was set up and lines in the water at a quarter to 5, 73 at waters edge, pretty strong breeze which I hoped would ease off as it had the last couple of days. Water temp at 64.5 in the little bay where I launch.
Side imaging showed lots of beds, many with fish in them but bites were spotty. Those that I did hook in shallow were a bit smaller than expected, mostly around 7 1/2". The larger fish, both male and female, came while trolling in the deeper water of 15-18'. Not sure what that means but it's what I found.







My catch was varied tonight, with a few bass, a few perch and just one crappie seeing the inside of the boat. It came on a cast to the outside edge of a weedline but I couldn't locate any others. He got a pass as I was focused on 'gills.



This perch it so hard he nearly took the pole out of the boat and fought like the dickens so I gave him a hero shot.



I brought the cooler but only kept a few. Total fish in the boat was 22, 10 of which came home for dinner in the near future. We all know I don't like cleaning fish late at night. Hopefully I'll have a bit more time for fishing in the coming days. The breeze never laid off and I called it a night at 6:50.

Nice catches!
same here small fish have been us couple weeks or more the bigs have just now started showing up in the shallows the last 4-5 days in my area .
stay at em a few warmer days and they be up for sure!