Thread: Going looking for bluegill

Originally Posted by silverside

I have decided to give the crappie a short break and try out the bluegill for a while. I have a spot to fish here in Illinois that gives up 10"-11" gills. My question is... what is considered above average for gills? I realize that geographic areas differ but I'm just looking for a ballpark number.

I don’t care where you’re at or what lake....a 10 inch bluegill is a trophy. If I had a spot in TN that gave up 10-11 inch bluegill I’d be there everyday. Here in TN public waters bluegill 8 inches with a good girth is a decent fish. Nine inch fish at one time were the norm but not so much anymore. Fished a lake yesterday and the biggest fish was 8-8.5 inches. Same lake 9 years ago the norm was 9-9.5 inches and a couple of 10 inch fish were usually caught each trip.

Regards


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Hopefully I can get out in the next week to try it. You know how they say work comes before play.

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Most places I've lived, including here in MS where they get big, an 8 inch bluegill is a good one and bluegill between 8 and 9 inches are somewhat common. Above 9 inches long is rare enough to be somewhat of a trophy around here. I don't fish often and so 10 inches or larger bluegill are very rare to me, although I will generally catch a few shellcrackers longer than that each year.

I would have to say the same as Cricketcage. Being as most get to go back and play another day, anything that generates a drag song is a winner in my book. I get very close to 10” for a bluegill but haven’t passed the mark in recent years. Shellcrackers get near the 11” mark and make me happy.

You all have helped get a good perspective on the gill situation. Being a bass and crappie guy all my life I have really lost touch with gill fishing. Thanks much everyone. I feel lucky to have a chance at these fish. I'll show you what I come up with when I get a chance to go.

our native texas bluegill don't get very big , 7 inchers are pretty nice fish in these parts . the coppernose they stock here and there and those that cross with them approach 8 to 9 inches in some spots .
there are exceptions to the rules though and a few spots produce real good 9 inch plus fish .
I know of a few spots like where my bud Sk goes and a couple of other lakes where 10 inch plus fish are not all that rare
some places they never seem to get big no matter what for whatever the reason is .
one lake I hit that should produce whoppers has some of the smallest on average that I have seen ?

A 8" gill is a good one here in Bartlett area.

Be sure to take pics and good luck, love to see some 10in Gills.