What do you do when you find one of the best Bluegill bites of your life, you go back and try to do it again. That is what we did this time but I took along some family to get in on the action. Knowing last weekend could be a once in a lifetime opportunity, we set off Sunday to try again. As you can see by the first picture, a bluegill weighing in at a whopping 1 pound 8 ounces.
When we arrived at the lake we were greeted with 25 MPH winds, which are typical for SD, and really add to the challenge. We worked several areas that produced the week before with only one 13 inch crappie to show for our efforts. So, after an hour and a lot of fine tuning, we made our way to a different part of the lake and it turned out to be a good move. We soon found fish suspended over deeper water. Let me tell you, it is not easy to fish suspended fish in a strong wind. The next photo is my dad Gary with two bluegill. One fish is 8 1/2 inches and weights just over a half a pound (a nice MN Bluegill). The other is 1 pound 7 ounces, a true trophy. I took this picture just so you can understand how big these fish are!
We ended up fishing 4 hours on the day and caught 12 bluegill with all but one going over 1 pound 3 ounces. We also caught 10 crappies that averaged just over a pound also. We kept a few crappies to eat and released all but a couple trophy bluegill. Here is a picture of a few of the fish we kept. The crappie in the picture was just shy of 2 pounds. Truely an unbelievable fishing experience once again.
Holy cow, Scott!
Those are some lunker panfish.
Bet that was fun reeling in those babies.
JWB
Nice fish Scott! Lake Thompson? Poinsett?
CR
Both
Hey Rees, good to hear from you. How about putting up some reports under the South Dakota Forum. It would be nice to get that rolling and you are just the guy to do it. We have a few more guys that are going to be posting reports for SD too.
Scott, what are those gills biting on? My dad caught a 1lb 12oz Blue Gill about 3 years ago but the picture of his didn’t do it justice, I guess he didn’t have long enough arms to get it held out. Those are some great looking fish and I’ll bet they put up a good fight.
LOL, Yes, taking picture of gills is tough to say the least. It is like trying to get a good picture of a Perch. Long arms certainly helps!
We have been getting the gills on small jigs and wax worms. Leeches have been working too, but those big bulls in SD are very light biters and don’t seem to fall for the panfish leeches.
Scott,
The Curt Rees you met in Pierre is actually my dad. I live in La Crosse and am not quite as handsome with my shirt off as the old man is.
I’ll let him know that you are requesting his presence at the IDA site. Currently he spends most of his time at Walleye Central but I’m sure he has time to be a resident of both WC and IDA.
Later,
Curt Jr.
Hey Curt Jr, nice to meet you. Yes, I got to know your dad while fishing the RCL at Lake Oahe. Nice website you put together for him, LOL. We exchange emails occasionally keeping up on the bite. I have been working on him to get onboard and keep us up on the bite out on Oahe. Maybe you can bug him for me too.
Scott & the IV
Aww right, I am in here! I got a good lookin’ grand kid don’t I, just like Gran pa!
Pa Karp
Oahe Report at Pierre, glass shad raps on Peoria Flats, 30′ of water, lead core. I caught some good Walleyes on Sunday.
Welcome Pa!!
I miss the nights of pulling cranks out on the flats.
I’m a Highmore boy who got transplanted to the cities.
John
John,
I enjoy pullin’ the ‘ol plugs around. When they are “on”, they are a lot of fun! The only problem I have, is I can’t tell when the 4 stroke is running, I have to stick my hand in the water from the “pee” hole to see if it is hot! lol
The bite on Sharpe is starting, Shad Raps on the bluffs and down at Ft. George will really take off shortly.
Pa Karp
Welcome aboard Pa, Check out the Oahe forum under SD when you get a chance.
Nice fish is right. I was sitting here just thinking about what it would be like to catch a gill like that on a fly rod. I have caught some 8-9 inchers on a fly rod and that is the time of a guys life. Just dreaming again is all. Thanks for the report Scott.
1 Pound 9 ounces, caught 8/22/04, Jon Dincau
1 Pound 7 Ounces, Caught 8/22/04, Both Released.