05-23-2004, 11:55 PM
[cool][blue][size 1]Hey Leaky, I can't answer for anybody else. But, I do know that there aren't many anglers who can truthfully claim to have a good handle on some waters...like Pelican. Most of us have spots where we fish only once in awhile, because it is such a long drive. Pelican fits that description. [/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]Unless somebody has had the opportunity to fish a lake through different seasons and different years, they can only guess as to what a problem might be. On Pelican, it usually boils down to water temperature, clarity, level and oxygen. When things get out of whack the fish shut down until conditions return to their comfort level.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]You have fished bluegills enough to know that they are not always the pushovers that some people would have you believe. True, wherever there are large populations of stunted 'gills they will eagerly hit almost anything you throw at them. However, in Pelican, the big boys have often been caught more than once before (with the low limits and catch and release). And, there is a lot of natural food in the lake, which makes them bigger faster. Add those together and you have to be better at fooling the fish to score big.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Big bluegills can be some of the most difficult fish to catch when they are stressed or wary. They DO respond to barometric changes as much as bass, if not more. And, during bright mooblit periods, during the warmer months of summer, they can also turn into night feeders.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]When I find timid big bluegills, that is usually my cue to cut down on the size of the line I am using, and often on the size of the jig too. You cannot effectively fish a mosquito larva fly on heavy tippet, and if they are gorging on midge larva or mosquito larvae they can be worse than selective trout.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Just some more of my two bits.[/size][/#0000ff]
[signature]
[#0000ff][size 1]Unless somebody has had the opportunity to fish a lake through different seasons and different years, they can only guess as to what a problem might be. On Pelican, it usually boils down to water temperature, clarity, level and oxygen. When things get out of whack the fish shut down until conditions return to their comfort level.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]You have fished bluegills enough to know that they are not always the pushovers that some people would have you believe. True, wherever there are large populations of stunted 'gills they will eagerly hit almost anything you throw at them. However, in Pelican, the big boys have often been caught more than once before (with the low limits and catch and release). And, there is a lot of natural food in the lake, which makes them bigger faster. Add those together and you have to be better at fooling the fish to score big.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Big bluegills can be some of the most difficult fish to catch when they are stressed or wary. They DO respond to barometric changes as much as bass, if not more. And, during bright mooblit periods, during the warmer months of summer, they can also turn into night feeders.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]When I find timid big bluegills, that is usually my cue to cut down on the size of the line I am using, and often on the size of the jig too. You cannot effectively fish a mosquito larva fly on heavy tippet, and if they are gorging on midge larva or mosquito larvae they can be worse than selective trout.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Just some more of my two bits.[/size][/#0000ff]
[signature]