Handling catches vertically 51 Replies

Not certain about the most of us, but since I'm a float tuber and a pontooner, I'm close to the surface of the water, already at arms level to hold the fishes in horizontal, double-handled method, wetting my hands before man-handling the fish. When I'm on the shoreline, I always have a 5 gallon bucket filled with the local water, preserving the natural biomatters and organics within that water to wet my hands with before handling the fish.However, I can confidently say 90% of us still hold the fish vertically when we CPR (capture, picture, release) holding large species, aside from the smaller, lighter, bubble weight BGs. Why would this matter? Fishes in the water swim horizontally. They descend and ascend horizontally, in an angle. They don't go vertical in the water. When being pulled out the water, the majority of the body mass suddenly shifts from horizontal to vertical, creating stresses both on the jaw and the body. Imagine you're wearing a 100lbs weight in additional to your own body weight, and someone grab you by the jaw, lifts you up, and suspends you from a minute to probably 3 minutes. What's the damages resulting from that event?The comeback statement probably fired back like, "Well, I CPR, and nothing happen to the fishes." How would you know? Do you swim with the fish for the next 3 to 5 days, to monitor their physiological damages before they go belly up? There are many documented events at my waters where double digit bass bellied up, not only being dragged from the depth too quickly without proper deflation, but also jawline damages due to improper handling. There goes the prized sport fishes the bass chasers are so happy to nurture."I handle my fish with one hand horizontally with no problem."Sorry to say, but you just damage the fish's jaw, preventing it from properly feeding due to permanent opened jawlock. You might as well have kept it."I properly handle the fishes using both hands during CPR."Did you actually protect the fishes by wetting…Continue

Started by Leo in Uncategorized. Last reply by dick tabbert 18 hours ago.

The Pond Boss & Richmond Mill Lake...a legacy in the making 32 Replies

Who would have thought, just 9 years ago, when Morgan Company property manager, Dave Buhler, met up with the Pond Boss, Bob Lusk (yours truly) at a Bass 101 seminar in Athens, Texas, that we would fast forward and be talking about giant bluegill we are growing in 125 acre Richmond Mill Lake? Morgan Company president and founder of King Fisher Society ( www.kingfishersociety.com ) Jim Morgan sure didn't. His passion has been largemouth bass. Now, he sees the significance of bluegill which grow beyond two pounds. That optimistic soul actually expects to grow bluegill surpassing the 3 pound mark...on a regular basis. Yes, those 7-8 pound bass are certainly garnering big attention, but the spectacular sizes of bluegill have become a new source of energy for those who hear about it. Funny, I'm the consulting biologist for this spectacular lake and I have come to believe it has the potential and opportunity to grow bluegill beyond that magical benchmark of 3 pounds. The lake was drained in 2001 to make major renovations on the dam. That project took four years. In 2004, we started planning and talking about what to do with this historic lake...one that played a role in saving lives during the Civil War. Fast flowing water exiting at 7-9,000 gallons per minute. Water with a pH less than 5.4 all the time...how could that kind of system possibly raise such giant fish as grace the camera lenses of awed anglers on a regular basis? We figured it out. Now, the world gets to hear about it, and some of you, members of www.bigbluegill.com could sure be able to experience it. For a VERY short time, the high end, very expensive King Fisher Society is opening its doors for $600 per day for a day fishing trip in groups of 4 or more. I promise you...I have been there since its inception...that is a steal. If you want a trip where you can have a legitimate opportunity to top your personal best on a…Continue

Started by Bob Lusk in Uncategorized. Last reply by Dave Campbell Jun 1.

2012 NORTH CAROLINA COPPERNOSE CALENDAR 21 Replies

JANUARYFEBRUARYMARCHAPRILMAYJUNEJULYAUGUSTSEPTEMBEROCTOBERNOVEMBER…Continue

Started by Jeffrey D. Abney in Sample Title. Last reply by Jeffrey D. Abney Jun 3.

redear vs pumpkinseed 31 Replies

ok so whats the difference or is there a difference.. as far as i can tell a redear just has a red or orange color on its ear.. now the pumpkinseed also has a red or orange color on its ear but has white on the sides of the red color.. is there any other real difference.. ive seen people call redears pumpkinseeds and seen people call pumpkinseeds redears..Continue

Started by cal okeefe in Sample Title. Last reply by Johnny Jun 8.

Joshua Knuth, skilled taxidermist, featured on www.bigbluegill.com! 10 Replies

I invite everyone to welcome our new member from OshKosh WI, taxidermist and artist Joshua Knuth, and check out out his fantastic work on his website.. www.knuthart.com/taxidermyJoshua's work is just amazing.  The amount of fine detail is brilliant.  We have several really talented wildlife artists on this site!Continue

Tags: taxidermist, Knuth, Joshua

Started by Jeff Soto in Sample Title. Last reply by David Dillman Jan 7.

A Christmas Fish Poem 2012 13 Replies

                                                       A Christmas Fish Poem 2012  Come gather around people, if you want to hear  A Christmas Story  about my fishing trips this year  T'was the night before Christmas and another year later  Again I got my cravings for fish and potaters   But first let me admit my sins from the past  Back in May I caught a big fish with every cast  I snuck in again at the backgate of Richman Mill  And caught so many the pile could be called  " Bluegill Hill"   So now I was looking for someplace new,  Ponds with Big Bluegill, yes, this is true  I heard of a place where the fish are enormous,  They feed them , and grow them , just like it was for us  So what is the question you think I should ask ya?,  Where will I go ? Well  I'll tell you , " NEBRASKA"   So I headed up North to try out my new flies  Greg had sent them to me , What a Surprise ,  Flies like these I have never seen sold,  But I really wanted one that looked like a mole.   I wanted to score more than the Badgers in the Championship Game,  Catching all of the fish was the reason I came,  But I did'nt  need my flyrod  , that was a good bet,  All I really needed  was a long handled dip net.   These ponds were all shallow and only eight foot across,  The fish were all healthy, like they were raised by Pond Boss  They were all full of fat bluegill don't you see,  And there they all were, waiting, just for me.   An Alabama wind whispered," This will be alright,  If you just get out of here before it gets daylight."  Catching fish in a barn really didn't take a brain,  So I filled  up my cooler with the " Condello Strain "   Let's have a Christmas Fish Fry, and  all of yall are invited,  And if Chris brings his pet we will all be excited.  Leo and Sharon , we have got room for you too,  And maybe even Bruce will show up out of the blue.   I'll have Dick Tabbert at the door to welcome you in,  Everyone needs to come, and I'll always have room for Jen.  I need to wrap this poem…Continue

Started by Lord of the Fly , Rods in Sample Title. Last reply by jason grimm Dec 15, 2012.

BIG BLUEGILL HITS MAINSTREAM POP CULTURE! 68 Replies

Okay, guys and gals...this is just a fun discussion here. Let's incorporate all the big bluegill 'stuff' we can think of to put these great fish in the lime light and top of the daily headlines! Examples...-Hot New Deals at Bluegill Pro Shops!-Bluegills R Us...toys for fishing toddlers!-And that great old hit..."I Wish They All Could be California Gills"Get the idea? Sure...songs, cars, iconic representations of 'Bluegill Americana" and more. Let's see what we come up with, be funny...have fun!Continue

Started by Jim Gronaw in Sample Title. Last reply by Lori Rexrode Hall on Wednesday.

New Bluegill rod. 34 Replies

Finally got to break this thing in. Our own Walt Foreman built it for me as a specialty BG rod, designed for casting lightweight offerings without any added weight, or float, while still experiencing the awesome fight of a big Bluegill.It's built on a 2-weight flyrod blank,  but I'll let the builder fill in the rest of the details.......What I can attest to, is the sheer functionality and beauty of this rod.....Thanks Walt, looking forward to putting it through it's paces!!   Continue

Started by Tony Livingston in Sample Title. Last reply by steve bernadowicz Feb 28.