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My "other" passion in pics..

Barber Shop Talk
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  • I particularly enjoy fly fishing for, catching & releasing some big bluegills & redear. Thought I would share some pics...

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    All 'gills in the pics were immediately & safely released. All the 'gills pictured were at least 10" long..largest was 11 1/4".

    Last pic is, of course, the old goat himself (me) fightin' another. I only keep bluegill under 8" for the fryer. Any 8" & larger swim again.

    Mike

  • Hey, Mike -

    Now, THAT is why I need to put in a pond !

    Bluegill fillets are excellent. Nice job !

  • I particularly enjoy fly fishing for, catching & releasing some big bluegills & redear. Thought I would share some pics...

    MikesPics1423.jpg

    MikesPics1001.jpg

    MikesPics647.jpg

    MikesPics654.jpg

    MikesPics600.jpg

    MikesPics1455.jpg

    All 'gills in the pics were immediately & safely released. All the 'gills pictured were at least 10" long..largest was 11 1/4".

    Last pic is, of course, the old goat himself (me) fightin' another. I only keep bluegill under 8" for the fryer. Any 8" & larger swim again.

    Mike

    @canton-mike said:

    All 'gills in the pics were immediately & safely released. All the 'gills pictured were at least 10" long..largest was 11 1/4".

    Last pic is, of course, the old goat himself (me) fightin' another. I only keep bluegill under 8" for the fryer. Any 8" & larger swim again.

    Mike

    Hey Mike, why do you keep the smaller fish. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Just curious.

  • @canton-mike said:

    All 'gills in the pics were immediately & safely released. All the 'gills pictured were at least 10" long..largest was 11 1/4".

    Last pic is, of course, the old goat himself (me) fightin' another. I only keep bluegill under 8" for the fryer. Any 8" & larger swim again.

    Mike

    Hey Mike, why do you keep the smaller fish. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Just curious.

    @kosar_for_president said:

    Hey Mike, why do you keep the smaller fish. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Just curious.

    Good question. Ten or twelve years or so ago, I DID keep larger 'gills, then I read an article about creating big bluegill fisheries that recommended releasing the large bluegill to improve the "gene pool" & increase average size in a body of water. Since reading that article, I have followed that catch & release philosophy, plus I DO NOT keep bass & WILL NOT even fish a small pond while bass are spawning (they'll hit anything & are in a weakened state, even if released). I may be wrong, but every pond I have fished has seen an increase in average size (usually a significant increase). Besides, a thick 7" to 8" bluegill has a lot of meat when properly cleaned. I fillet & skin them, then freeze them packed in water (no freezer burn) & they'll taste fresh as new after a year or two.

    Mike

  • Nothin like fish mmmm and ya freezing them in water does help big time. i had fish that was 2 or 3 years old that was frozen that way n i couldnt tell