Sunday, May 11, 2014

Back to Work on my 2014 Bluegill Quest


I was back on Walker County Lake Tuesday working on my bluegill quest. I wanted to see if the live bait crowd had left any bluegills on the beds that I could take with the small poppers. I fished roughly 3 hours and landed some nice gills worthy of my count for this year. This is a daylight dust to dark lake and if one wants to catch anything at all you need to fish at those times.
The first bull gill of the morning with the popper stuck deep in its throat; awesome on the 4 weight.
Most all the bluegills were located directly under this overhanging tree. It was tricky casting placing the size 8 popper directly under the tree limbs. When the popper did make it to its target under the tree and next to the bank, it was just a matter of seconds before the popper disappeared and the fight was on. Sorry for the poor quality of this image.
Another nice bluegill with the popper stuffed inside it's mouth.
I thought I would enter this bluegill in the contest Mel’s friend is conducting on Facebook.
These five are worthy of the quest, I am now 35 away from my goal. 
Some fantastic table fare baked or deep fired in peanut oil. Add some fresh fries, cole slaw, hush puppies and of course a cold Coors; anybody hungry??
 
 



 

 

22 comments:

  1. Those are some chubby Gills. Should make a fantastic dinner.

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  2. Bill, keep your eyes open for Mark. He's taking his cat fishing again! Not to change the sugject, those are some great looking gills. Hopefully Mel and I will be able to get out soon...you see, it's snowing in Colorado today.

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  3. Bill nice gills! What time are we eating? I am glad your quest is underway and by the looks of it you will have to increase your goal before the season is up! Worse problems to have! Tight lines and look forward to the rest of the quest!

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  4. Well, Bill, Howard as let you in on the weather outside today near our homes. Incredibly crazy weather patterns here from day to day. Those are some great looking Bluegill and I really think you have a good chance at winning the 2014 Bluegill Blitz with the one you sent me to enter. Now, there is not anything better, than a cold beer and a bunch of prepared Bluegill for the belly!

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  5. Mark
    These are some of the better ones that I have landed. The spawn is just about over on Walker for this cycle. Thanks for the comment

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  6. Howard
    I'm looking forward to a trout report from your home waters. Thanks for the comment

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  7. Noco
    It will get tougher as the season moves along. Walker lake is over for this year, with Smith being much harder to reach the goal. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Mel
    Unreal weather out that way, hope you get on the water soon; The 9 1/2" gill is one of my largest yet on Walker Lake. Thanks for the comment

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  9. Vacations over.....back to work Bill. Love your job.

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  10. I am partial to bluegill soup myself. Nice looking fish you are catching.

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  11. Alan
    My mistake, fishing for these super size bluegill is not work. Thanks for the comment

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  12. Lester
    This is the way I learned how to fly fish landing the bluegill with the fly rod. Thanks for the comment

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  13. Daniel
    Bluegill soup, a new one for me--thanks for the comment

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  14. That's bigger than the one I posted for the contest by at least an inch. Nice fish!

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  15. Kevin
    I was lucky to land this bluegill, I originally thought it was a bass. Super fight on the 4 wt. Thanks for the comment

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  16. Wow, those are some super sized bluegills! Outstanding job casting that popper under those limbs.

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  17. you have taught me the way

    bluegills aren't big until they have a forehead !!!!

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  18. Hey Bill, I'm coming out with an app for fishermen and was wondering if you'd be willing to try it out. If you like it maybe you could mention it in one of your blog posts, and in exchange I could list your blog on my sponsor page! Let me know what you think - Kyle. (kyle@usafishingrules.com)

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  19. Jeeeeeeeze those things are big. If I had regular access to a body of water with gills like that, I think I might actually start fishing for them more!!

    Are the big ones like a lot of other fish though in that they tend to not taste as good as they get bigger?

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  20. Blake
    True the mark of a big bull bluegill is the hump forehead, which makes him worthy of the bull status. Thanks for the comment

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  21. Rick
    Big or medium both are excellent meals. I am lucky to have a couple of places to fish for these big fish. Smith my home waters is huge so one has to know to where to look for the beds during the spawn. I have been lucky there as well, I have been able to find some bedding. After the spawn is over they can be found in deep water along shady banks. That is where the sink tip line is a plus, which I am still learning how to use correctly. Thanks for the comment

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  22. Justin
    I lost a few poppers trying to make the precise cast. Thanks for the comment

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