Well Bob, that's all good info but the boys and I are going for salmon on lake Michigan and my buddies and I are going for walleye on Lake Erie so the gils can wait for now.
Similar saying in Louisiana: "When there are leaves the size of mouse ears on the Pecan trees, it is time to catch Perch." Worked for me!And it is a well known fact that the first fish to bite and spawn are found near the northwest shore of the lake/canal.
Pro tip: For Bluegills & other sunfish; When you see the spawning beds in shallow water? Ignore those.The big un's spawn in deep water, about 20 feet down. Fish there.Believe it or not, I actually have a Bachelor of Science degree - Aquatic Biology.
Quote from: Longbob on March 06, 2021, 10:08:40 PMPro tip: For Bluegills & other sunfish; When you see the spawning beds in shallow water? Ignore those.The big un's spawn in deep water, about 20 feet down. Fish there.Believe it or not, I actually have a Bachelor of Science degree - Aquatic Biology.Or fish there and catch the ones on the nests and go back very early the next morning and take the yellow perch standing on their noses taking the eggs.
Quote from: profsrgary on March 08, 2021, 08:45:05 PMQuote from: Longbob on March 06, 2021, 10:08:40 PMPro tip: For Bluegills & other sunfish; When you see the spawning beds in shallow water? Ignore those.The big un's spawn in deep water, about 20 feet down. Fish there.Believe it or not, I actually have a Bachelor of Science degree - Aquatic Biology.Or fish there and catch the ones on the nests and go back very early the next morning and take the yellow perch standing on their noses taking the eggs.Nah, the ones I ignore at the shallow beds will eventually become the big uns I catch when they're spawning in deep water a few years down the road. That's called 'conservation' I don't know what you call 8 to 9 inch bluegills but around here they are considered pretty nice. Now I am in no way the fishing expert you are with a college degree but almost 70 years of fishing experience has taught me a few things. And I do believe you when say you have a BS degree.
Quote from: Longbob on March 06, 2021, 10:08:40 PMPro tip: For Bluegills & other sunfish; When you see the spawning beds in shallow water? Ignore those.The big un's spawn in deep water, about 20 feet down. Fish there.Believe it or not, I actually have a Bachelor of Science degree - Aquatic Biology.Or fish there and catch the ones on the nests and go back very early the next morning and take the yellow perch standing on their noses taking the eggs.Nah, the ones I ignore at the shallow beds will eventually become the big uns I catch when they're spawning in deep water a few years down the road. That's called 'conservation'
I don't know what you call 8 to 9 inch bluegills but around here they are considered pretty nice. Now I am in no way the fishing expert you are with a college degree but almost 70 years of fishing experience has taught me a few things. And I do believe you when say you have a BS degree.
Quote from: Longbob on March 06, 2021, 10:08:40 PMPro tip: For Bluegills & other sunfish; When you see the spawning beds in shallow water? Ignore those.The big un's spawn in deep water, about 20 feet down. Fish there.Believe it or not, I actually have a Bachelor of Science degree - Aquatic Biology.All the fishermen I knew in Louisiana had a BS Degree = Bull S--t Degree! Example: If a fisherman said the fish were biting at Henderson Lake, it would be best to go someplace else. If the person said the Perch were biting on Crickets, you best bring Red Worms and some jigs too, just to be safe.
I always have a tape measure on my belt and a scale in my pocket. I'm so tired of guys telling me how long the fish was or how much it weighed but they had no tape or scale with them.