Spring Lake - Santa Rosa 5-31

Paddled Spring Lake on Tuesday from about 4:00 - 7:00PM. Went there more for the exercise than the fishing, but was pleasantly surprised by a wide open blue-gill bite.

Fished small red worms and mini-crawlers about 2.5' under a float, with size 10 hooks and a small splitshot to keep it down.

My buddy was also ropin' 'em with small red crappie jigs fished under a float.

Fished near the tules on the north-east side of the lake.

My first freshwater, kayak caught fish!

Also saw one ~14' bass landed on a dark (black, blue, or purple) Senko.

Pound for Pound, I think Bluegills put up a big fight  

 The all-tackle world record bluegill stands at 5 pounds 7-ounce caught from the Diversion Canal at Santee Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina. I have a picture of it from a magazine cut-out. I'll try to post the pic.

I'm not sure if this the current record but it sure is a big moma  

I caught my biggest bluegill at Lake Del Valle 1 1/2 pounds - it actually attacked my shad rapala as I was slow trolling  

Growing up in Wisconsin, I used to love targeting bluegills with a fly rod in the spring when they were on their spawing beds.  Two flys... a popper on top and a wet fly on a dropper.... you'd often hook two at a time... lots of fun on a light fly rod.

It's on now!

Just went to Wal-Mart and picked up an ultra-lite rig.

Should make catching bait in the SW a little more fun, too.

just thought you might like a little Way To Go, yeah, blue gills are pretty fun fish, I've always used worms for them on super lite tackle, they are always guaranteed to keep the girlfriend entertained too.  I've never gotten any over a lb and a half.  Would love to see the 5lb one if you know of a link.