A boat full of Michigan bluegills
July 7, 2009
One of Many, photo by mickey-finn.
Mickey Finn says that this picture is from an awesome night of fly fishing for bass and bluegills in Michigan in which he landed over 30 of these hand-sized beauties. The Michigan DNR’s Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) page says:
The bluegill is a native to eastern and central North America, including the lower Great Lakes. This fish enjoys a well-deserved popularity with anglers. Many a young angler boasts the delicious bluegill as a first catch, while seasoned anglers using light tackle find it a valiant fighter. Bluegills favor warm waters (64 to 70 degrees F) with plenty of cover such as weed beds, submerged logs, or drop-offs. They usually stay in relatively shallow water, but as temperatures rise in the summer, large bluegills will head for deeper water. This fish also provides good winter sport since it remains active all winter long.
The bluegill spawns in the shallows in the late spring or early summer when the water temperature reaches 65 degrees F. Males build nesting colonies in gravel, sand or mud and will guard the eggs and newly hatched fry until they reach the swimming stage.
Wikipedia’s bluegill entry has lots more about this common sunfish.
