Big Gills Back for Second Spawn

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Local Ponds

With the June 2 full moon phase big bluegills, especially those heavy, ripe females, are once again shallow and taking a variety of jigs with or without bait. We fish them below small bobbers and work the outer edges of spawning colonies. Not all spawning craters will have fish on them, but fish close to them and you should have action. Remember, the hens (females) are only on the beds for a very brief period of time, and then the males dominate the family duties of protection. Keep a few for the pan but release the large majority of the guardian males to maintain quality fisheries for years to come. Here are some of our better fish last week with gills to 11 inches and pumpkinseeds to 10.25 inches.