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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650 |
I'm in Southern IN. Caught a mess of bluegills yesterday for dinner. One of the ones I fileted had eggs. Going of memory, this seems a bit early. My dad always told me that they spawned around the full moon in May and possibly again in June. Thoughts?
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,688
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,688 |
I think your dad is correct. But bluegill spawn tens of thousands of eggs, I don't think they just lay them like a chicken. My guess is that it takes awhile to make all those eggs before they actually go on the nest and spawn.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650 |
I could see that. Wasn't so full of eggs it was squirting them out when in hand, but they were definitely there.
As an aside, I don't know if there's freshwater fishing I enjoy more than spawning panfish.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,688
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,688 |
They are fun to catch, no doubt. And pretty tasty!
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
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Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,340
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 2,340 |
I've not caught any in awhile but, love catching the bigger ones.
Why do I have to press 1, for English?
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 639
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 639 |
Here in N. Miss and SW TN they start spawning as early as late March I always heard that they mainly spawn the 3 days after the full moon in April, May and June
GoTigersGo
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 639
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 639 |
PS I just ate a mess that I caught this evening in my pond
GoTigersGo
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,360
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 15,360 |
Me and my brother in the late 70s got on a bed of them near Hayward wi ... every fish bigger than your hand...we were the only ones on the lake...cold out is what else I remember...and no boat launch..had to drive between 2 corn field's....and walk the boat to the water.
I work harder than a ugly stripper....
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,005
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,005 |
Thought the old folks say when the dogwoods bloom?
Or maybe that’s white perch…
Or she’ll crackers…..
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,971 |
This year the spawn in Kansas for crappie, spoonbill and such is running really late due to us having snow almost every Thursday..
70’s 2 days, and 2 days of almost snow for 2-3 months now.
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,052
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,052 |
Not yet here in ECIL. March and April have been cold and extremely rainy, so they may be a bit late this year.
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Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 153
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 153 |
My in laws in Northern MN have them in their lake. The lakes are still frozen solid but warmer weather is starting to melt things. It will be awhile yet though before the bluegill spawn happens near here.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,794
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,794 |
Used to always catch them with eggs from this time untill summer. Pap(born in 1918) wasted nothing. Any fish eggs found when cleaning were kept and fried. And they were found, there was no filleting. It wasted meat. Scaled, finned, guts out, head off/tails on into the skillet. Nothing was wasted.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,650 |
Cleaned 26 more over the weekend from the same lake. All males this time. Water was too stained to see them, but from where I was catching them I'd assume they are moving into start cleaning off the beds.
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,036
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,036 |
In NE Texas, you can almost always count on the bluegills or bream (which ever you want to call them) will be on the beds during the full moon in May. Then again in June.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,867
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 38,867 |
Elephant footprints in the bottom.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,611
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 9,611 |
My Dad and grandmother, which by the way loved catching them said when the Dogwoods leaves got to be the size of a mouse's ear...it was time to go bream fishing. powdr
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Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,781
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 8,781 |
Bluegills are my favorite fish. I either use an ultralight spinning setup or a 2 weight fiberglass fly rod.
Will Munny: It's a hell of a thing, killing a man. Take away all he's got and all he's ever gonna have.
The Schofield Kid: Yeah, well, I guess they had it coming.
Will Munny: We all got it coming, kid.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
Bluegills are my favorite fish. I either use an ultralight spinning setup or a 2 weight fiberglass fly rod. Same here. A bit off topic but years ago I was wading through a shallow section dotted with bluegill beds. One good sized female was guarding her nest and not afraid of me approaching. Just to see what would happen I reached down and actually touched her! She locked on to my thumb and bit like a big dog!
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 101
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 101 |
We just caught a mess here in central ms. They had marks on the rails from whipping the beds. Catch and release kinda day.
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