BluegillsTightlines

Went fishing yesterday morning before it got so dang blasted hot and caught a decent handful of bluegill and a couple shellcracker like this one. The bluegill were up at the lakefront dock, caught the shellcracker on an island sticking out from the bank. Then went down another turn down below a large rock, where I noticed a bass giving some bream absolute heck in the weeds, so I decided to bait up for a 3-4 inch bluegill(not sure how people here feel about that, but it's 100% legal here according to the game warden) and use it to see if I could coax thst bass out. And almost immediately it began pursuit of thst bluegill and had bad intentions for it-- absolutely hammered it, I saw the wake trail it left as it pursued my bluegill. It was a very enjoyable morning yesterday. That Daiwa Triforce-Z 153iV is a baitcaster my dad bought for me 25 years ago when I was in middle school. I had been wanting a baitcaster and he said if I did well enough on my report card that year, he would do it, as he believes good work should always be recognized. So he placed $5 per B $10 per A, and being a math major, he placed $15 bucks on As in math. I ended up with $155 in all and we went to Bass Pro and I got it. I am happy to be catching bass on it and even thouhh the reel handle shows some paint chipping, it still works wonderfully.

And boy did that feel sooooooooooo good after having to miss an entire season of fishing. I had legit wondered if I would.have forgot how to react when I saw the line taking off, ha! Oh it felt amazing!!!

I didn't get to fish at all last year due to illness, back injury, and hospitalization for heart rythym issues. Got back out there finally this here and here is my first bass that I caught since returning to the waters. Ironically nothing bit bass baits that say, but I got it, along with some nice shellcracker on nightcrawlers with my light set up

Caught 4 years ago in the county lake on a nightcrowlaer and float. One of my favorite all time catches of mine, even topping some bass and catfish because of the coloration. I had never seen a red ear/shellcracker colored up that dark and golden-bronze like before, and I've yet to catch another one like that. Oh and he was a pig too, pulled and fought like a bucketmouth!

I do love me some good tater chips....... That said, the vast majority of the fish were more like the first one. If I'd have had the chance and time, I would have fixed them suckers up either in deep fry, or on the stove top frying pan in beer batter. Yummmm.

I went fishing up at the county th lake for a couple hours before I had to pick my nephew up from school. At the initial spot by the dam where it had been said catfish, crappie, and bluegill had previously been active, I didn't get a bite, so not liking my chances there I hopped in the car and drove till I found a more attractive looking spot. Not long did it take till I found an area with some vegetation in the water with some fell limbs and trees, and some white poles sticking up out of the water. I got there and saw it was about 2-3 feet deep, and liked the potential hiding places for fish there. Water and air temp were goid, and I decided to have at it there with a float, splitshot, brim hook, and nightcrawler. I immediately caught a nice little bluegill with s bright orange belly. And the bite was great from there. All up and down that 30-40 foot swath the bluegill and shellcracker were biting. A couple instantly soon as the cast landed in the water. Pretty much every fish appeared to be nice solid bluegill and red ear/shellcracker. I caught THIRTY in a two hour frame. I have not had that good a bite in a LONG time, especially over such a short window, so I was very, very pleased. I'll try to post a couple pics of my catches and see what you guys think. Love that orange belly by far the smallest. None were any smaller than this. What do you think? Would those be good eaters, or should the be a bit bigger? On short notice, this was catch and release, but next time, I plan to keep a few to fillet.