Saturday, April 23, 2016

Huge Bluegilsl Landed on Walker County Lake

I started by bluegill quest this past Tuesday with early morning temps in the mid-forties, quite chilly. Overcast skies kept the temperature cool most of the morning, but it didn’t affect the bluegill bite. I had the lake to myself for a couple of hours, which is always a plus when fishing Walker County Lake. As I have told you guys numerous times this is one of the most pressured small lakes in the state. My plan was to fish the east side of the lake where there is no access for bank fishermen. I know where most of the spawning beds are located year in and out on this lake; today held no surprises for me. What did surprise me was most all the spawning beds were void of fish. At my first stop, I counted close to 40 beds, after I landed 3 nice bluegills.
The sweet spot on this bank was located near the fallen log lying in the water. The bluegills had clean out close to 40 spawning beds to the right and left of the log.
The first gill of the morning, which nailed an Orvis size 12 legless tiny popper; a lot of fun on the 3 weight.
This fish loved the little popper, the very next cast produce another strong fish which hung my little popper and the fish in a tangled mess of underwater brush; so much for that popper. Wouldn’t you know it that was the only one in the fly box, another trip to Orvis?
Another group of gills was located at the end of this moss pad in deeper water; again lots of spawning beds but only a few bluegills left to fish for. The live bait guys did a great job plucking each and every bluegill out of their beds.
The Bar Nunn popper got the attention of this bull after my little Orvis popper bites the dust. I was able to land a number of bluegill from the moss pad area that someone actually left for me. As I moved from spawning beds to spawning beds I felt like I was cleaning up what was left of this spawn.
This guy was having a time landing catfish using chicken livers as bait. In fact, he was hauling one in when I snapped this picture. He had 7 or 8 rigs all hanging over the edge of the boat.
I left all my drinking water at the house so I had to make a trip to the bait shop and purchase a couple of bottles. As I was leaving the shop I noticed this lady painting a beautiful scene of the point area in the distance. She told me she had finished a number of paintings of the lake this past year.
The Pelican now has padded seats as opposed to those hard plastic seats I used for a couple of years. This is the 10 ft. version and will handle two fly fishermen really well-------as long as my line is down on the water and their line is up in the air or vice versa---I think you guys know what I am talking about!!
These are the best of the best for a very successful morning; these 10 will put a dent in my bluegill quest. I added 8 more that kept me filleting bluegill for a couple of hours after I got home. I will go after the big bulls on Smith Lake next week. I am now 40 away from my 50 quests; could this be my year to make it???


16 comments:

  1. I really enjoy your quest. I fish right along side with you. Thanks for sending these out. I always enjoy getting them. Great pictures also.

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  2. My favorite time of the year is when you start posting up those huge gills Bill.

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  3. Grant
    Glad you enjoy the quest, it helps make the trip trips more interesting, as if I needed anything to spice up my fishing trips. Thanks for the commnet

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  4. Howard
    Those were some quality gills for sure; I hope to land a few more in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the comment

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  5. Mark
    I am now into my 5th. year trying to reach my bluegill quest; I hope this is the year I make it. Thanks for the comment

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  6. Good to see you back on your game.

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  7. I have total faith in you making it happen. Love the photos. Bluegill sound like a lot of fun to catch.

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  8. Haven't those gills learned to steer clear of your boat yet? =)

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  9. Alan
    Stay focus, stay focus, is my motto for the rest of this season. Thanks for the comment

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  10. RD
    The big ones are a ton of fun on a 3 wt. could be the year I make it. Thanks for the comment

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  11. Kevin
    They did this morning, post coming to explain why---thanks for the comment

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  12. I believe in you, Bill! You're going to do it! I'm very envious of the size you have on those bluegills. Lots of fun, I bet!

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  13. Justin
    I usually get one shot on Walker County Lake before the fertilize is dumped and the bait fishermen clean the beds; this trip was it. I will have to count on other places to make the quest for the rest of the season. Thanks for the comment

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  14. Hmmm. I might have to finally try to find some local bluegills with the kids this Saturday. Looks like fun!

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  15. Chris
    My grandson loves to land bluegill, what a great way to get the kids interesting in fishing. thanks for the comment

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