Spawn is still going on and fishing is good for size on Caldwell. Lake has never been this clear this time of year so you can see all the beds all around lake, doesn't makes them any easier to catch.They are deep and they see you sooner than you see them so I don't target beds cause it doesn't add much to the catch. Lot's of 9 1/2 to 11 in fish and it's just getting good now.
I have also noticed the reduction in reports on mongo sized gills. I have noticed as well, thatthe natural lakes in the northern part of the state seem to put out, on average, bigger gills than the manmade lakes here in Central and Southern Indiana. (Middle aged strip pits seem to be the southern exception.) I marvel at reports here and on ice shanty about hauls of 10 inch bluegills.Around these parts a nine inch fish is a chunk. I don't want to start a ruckus but we release all big gills or redears. Genetics plays alarge role in size and we want to keep fish with good genes for size in the reproductive pool. For us, "eater sized" or "keepers" are from 6.5 to 8 ". Unless we have committed to feedfamily or others, we keep no more than 5 fish an outing. That's plenty for the twoof us. The reason for this is not a noble one. I just hate finding a bag of "aged" filletsfrom the back of the freezer. If were not meat fishing, we release them.My wife put the hoist on a measured 12.5 " redear while fishing in Barkley Lake KY lastApril. She now holds the first and second largest redears in the family. Between us we have5 redears or gills between 12 and 12.5 inches (I've got her 3-2) - 3 from KY and two fromIndiana. Every one was released. That's also with a combined 90+ years of fishing experiencebetween us. I've seen some real bruisers come out the LBL region. One guy had one that lookedlike a hubcap from an old F150. Look up Lake Havasu redears and prepare to get your minds messed up....fish on, and onRivereddy
Never hurts to release those big male bluegills. Usually enough smaller class fish to keep for a meal.
No new records, Cecil....still holding around a pound and 14 ozs. Feel optimistic that a two pounder is in my future, but time will tell!Good to hear from you, miss your input.....
releasing dont start a ruckus man. its when you score big and others are sad because they cant do it. thats when people get mad and whine. lol