Reel Foot Gills

Would Reelfoot be a good choice to catch a few BIG bluegills to put on the wall or would another mid south lake be better. Thanks

I wouldnt go there..........there is a guy on here that guides on some private ponds in TN that would prob put you on better numbers and larger Gills.......

Much thanks, Young Gun! I fished Reelfoot a couple times years ago, and while the bluegill there are definitely bigger than at the average public lake, I have half a dozen ponds that stomp Reelfoot.

Here are a few that were caught last year from ponds I guide on:

[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8...4bfd1ffa38.jpg 10-7-8-july-26t [/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8...16b4efc41e.jpg by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8039/8...a9287b00ac.jpg bluegill oct 1 by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8307/8...743f97614e.jpg BBGfri by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8...f71545087f.jpg fifth-fish-#2-july-26 by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/8...7090e5d1ea.jpg bluegill june 5 by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8453/8...b31de97b36.jpg bluegill 3 june 5 by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8175/7...522c81d740.jpg big hybrid april 7 by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8322/8...9b5182f1f3.jpg hybrid-on-ruler-oct-4 by tnpondmanager, on Flickr[/IMG]

I don't allow pure-strain bluegill over 9" to be kept, but I would allow a big hybrid bluegill to be kept, and if you wanted to make a replica of a pure-strain I know the best bluegill taxidermist in the country and he specializes in replicas. Give me a shout.

Reelfoot has bigger than average size and plenty of them. I haven't really seen any over 1lb. although I'm sure there must be plenty in there. But a cooler full of 1/2 - 3/4 pounders is easy to come by in good conditions.

Every fish I posted a photo of above is a pound or better; all but one of them are twenty ounces or better, and the biggest two that were weighed (the two biggest northern-strain weren't weighed, as I wasn't there when they were caught) went 28 and 31 oz.

It's rare that I fish any of my best ponds without catching at least one bluegill over a pound; they averaged over a pound apiece last year in my best pond. I charge $75 a day more than guides on Reelfoot do; if you want to catch the bluegill of a lifetime, it's a pretty easy decision.

If you like to bream fish and big bream kentucky and barkley is unreal for numbers and size known for big bass and lots of crappie the bream fishing is outstanding!!!!

I have fished Reelfoot lake and North Central part of Kentucky Lake, and aside from one big Redear and 4 or 5 of the biggest Bluegills All the fish I have caught at Kentucky Lake out do Reelfoot. There are some big fish in both but I am heading for Kentucky lake in 3-4 weeks to fish for a week and gills and ears are my primary goal. Tnpondmanager has the chops and locations to get you some big fish no doubt. If I were in his neck of the woods, I would beg him for advice and save my pennies for a guide trip. Maybe I should start posting pics here too...:fish

I've fished Reelfoot many times late May to early June, and caught tons of bull bluegill. Its a cheap trip, and lots of fun. Or stop at Kentucky lake, and catch some monster redear.

If you are wanting a real trophy fish Walt's ponds. If you want some really good Gills to take home go to Kentucky Lake or Barkley.


Regards

Thanks! After seeing those pictures of the big Bluegills,:yikes I don't think our wall is strong enough to hold up a few mountings. Thanks again.