Gills are starting to bed

[StumpJumper]

My wife and I caught 20 monster gills yesterday afternoon on the Randall Chain in Branch County (Coldwater) the males were squirting and the females were bulging and we caught them all in 3 f.o.w.

[fishonbb]

I went to one of my go to lakes for big gills and i didnt catch as many as i normaly do but i did get a few that felt like big bass so they are starting to come in. Ended up with ten big gills. Headed up to baldwin for the holiday weekend and hope to get some nice gills on big star.

[RyGuy525]

i have been waiting to see a report like that. I will be headed to my favorite redear lake this weekend and see if i can get a few monsters.

[RobFromFlint]

Caught some nice gills today. Biggest went 10", smallest around 8". Didn't feel like filleting so I mad a dock fisher happy.

[SmittySlayer]

I went out last Saturday (May 16) and kept 11 gills and 1 perch. I counted about 6 beds total in about 5 areas that normally have a lot of beds. I threw back 3 or 4 females that were full of eggs. I also threw back about 10 bass that hit my bobber and worm. One was in the 20" 3-4lb range. I'm not a bass fisherman but it was the biggest one I have ever caught. I figured by this weekend the gills should be starting. I'll hit the water again this weekend and hopefully keep 25. I use a hand held counter and click it each time I throw one in the basket so I know when I hit 25 and it is time to go.

[Adventure484]

Went out to Fenton Lake on Wed. Cought about a dozen keepers, mostly in 7-10 ft of water. Most of the keepers had eggs.

[SmittySlayer]

Went out to Fenton Lake on Wed. Cought about a dozen keepers, mostly in 7-10 ft of water. Most of the keepers had eggs.


I fish in the same area too...I just don't give away my exact location.

[whitetailmonster]

starting to see beds on wixom!

[Oldgrandman]

Were they those big hybrids or "regular" gills? Those hybrids get scarey huge!

[sirslurpee]

I fish in the same area too...I just don't give away my exact location.

I too fish out there. We got about 14 decent keepers say 2 and a half weeks ago from the canals..
Probably middle of next week I'll be out there chasing them again. Early EARLY morning. Seriously. I'll be at the launch about 4:15. :evil:

[StumpJumper]

Were they those big hybrids or "regular" gills? Those hybrids get scarey huge!

A mix of both gills and redears.. I know a farm pond that has the REAL Hybrids, damn things get about 12" and weigh over a pound a piece!!

We was out there again at 6am today and caught another 20 or so..That's about as many as I want to fillet in a day lol.

We spent the rest of the day joy riding all the lakes. I caught a nice sunburn too lol. 8 hours on the water.

We probably would've stayed longer but I was thirsty and had enough pop and the only store on the water doesn't sell beer. :dizzy:

[StumpJumper]

The total today was 24 and the largest was only 9 1/2" but they were nice thick fish. I throw most of the females back unless they swallow the hook and are bleeding after removal.

I'm sick of filleting fish already but I'm ready to get back out fishing lol. :D

[steve myers]

I'm glad to see your are avery good outdoorsman throwing all females baci as I do too but as for the size of fish out of that chain that I fish lots every year if you got a couple over 9 that is very good,I have not every seen a 10 inch gill out of that body of water in my life.It is a great fishery for decent gills and nice bass though.Good luck and I'll be out too.

[sadworld]

glad to hear some good reports. would anyone mind sharing your technique? leaf worms? bobber? flies? minnows? jigs? spinners? depth? trying to learn this type of fishing now that i have a little boat... thanks. matt.

[UPWannaBRon]

Blue Gills on the bed are generally not too picky. If you want to catch a lot of fish fast, I go with a slip bobber and an inch long piece of night crawler. I think the piece of crawler is more durible that leaf worms or red worms. You won't have to rebait as often. I like to break out the fly rod when they're bedding though. I have a blast doing that. My go to fly is a mini wooly bugger that I tie up. I also throw little poppers or some things out of my dry fly box and that's always fun to watch them bust those on the surface. I went out yesterday and boxed 20 in about an hour with the fly rod. They hit the popper about once every 4 casts and they hit the mini wooly bugger every cast or every other cast. Had a bass nail the popper once and had three Crappies hit the bugger right at the edge of the sand bar with the beds. Had to hurry home after that so I had time to clean those 20 and get ready for the Wings game. Great day yesterday. 20 Gills on the fly rod and the Wings put the whuppin stick to the Blackhawks.

[sadworld]

i think i found some beds but tons of 3 inchers.... good for my 3yr old... bad for dad....

[TrekJeff]

i think i found some beds but tons of 3 inchers.... good for my 3yr old... bad for dad....


Nah, not bad for dad, it's great for an early investment in your 3yr interest, those are priceless fish:D

Pulled a very nice gill while walleye fishing. I throw one in the deep channel, on on the edge of the flat and one in the middle of the drop off. The gill hit the one on the drop off in about 6 feet of water. It was all i caught so it's still swimming.