A Few Nice Gills Today

[StantheMan2567]

Last week I doctored some bream baits up in anticipation of the upcoming bite, and a couple of my offerings paid off today.

?My use of Trout Magnet baits has been limited, but after a few recent successes, I am a fan! To be honest I did buy a half tube of crickets this morning, just to be on the safe side, as they are my bait of choice. The morning started off cloudy, windy, and overcast, not good Bluegill weather for the areas I fish. I located some Crappie last Friday in this same area so I spent a couple hours pecking around for them and managed a nice limit. The sun came out around 11:30 and the Sunfish search was on. I saw some small females cruising around a floating dock and private concrete ramp. A couple casts with a cricket on a plain hook under a float led to my first Gill of the year.

?Over the winter I treated myself to a 7’ St Croix Panfish Series Rod. The Chief Financial Officer does not know how much I spent on a Bluegill rod, and thanks to Bass Pro Shops Gift cards she probably never will! With 4lb Nanofil Braid, this is a sweet set up for Bluegill. Probably not as nice as the outfits Alphahawk uses and writes about, but so far I am pleased. The mealworm colored Panfish Magnet produced a couple Gills, with and without a cricket added.
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And surprisingly, when tipped with a cricket I caught this one!
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I culled one of the smaller Crappie for this pretty lady and considered my day a success.
9 Gills rode home in the “left “ livewell, and were cleaned first.
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Biggest fish beside the ruler. This about average for the ones I keep from this lake. Some larger ones will show up closer to the next full Moon in May, but overall I was pleased with my first Bluegill catch of the year.
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