One of my new fishing buddies with his biggest bluegill. Caught it all by himself on a 16" long black racer, still in it’s mouth. I’m pretty sure it’s bigger than his head. I left my scales at home that day, but what ya’ll think it’ll weigh? As you can see, he’s holding it close to his body so it’s much larger than it actually appears 
Actually it’s a Cabela’s Crappie USA jacket. But the Frabill Snowcoat is pretty sweet. I hope to buy one when the boat is paid off.
got this little guy while crappie jiggin with a 16ft wallymarshall 6lb line, a hour later this is what came up . fun catch when ur in a 8ft plastic boat !
Biggest so far this year . Looks to be a cross between a bluegill and a shellcracker . Close to a pound I was estimate . gillchaser
TJ, DonDon,
The Frabill jacket and bibs are extremely windproof and the warmest suit I have ever worn. Was ice fishing in windy conditions with high temps in the teens, and I was still comfortable. Plus you don’t need to wear much underneath.
They make new raingear named the “Stormsuit”, which is getting some excellent reviews, and I have to believe it is also an excellent product. Send me a PM if anyone is interested in the IceSuit or Stormsuit, as I have a small business and can purchase them at wholesale. I can save you some money. Not a sales pitch…just trying to help a fellow angler save money in these tough times.
Thanks WadeBlade, my bad. I thought DonDon was commenting on my jacket. Oops!
The fish looks like a big redear and not a cross. How can you tell that it is a hybrid???
yeah just cause it doesnt have the red on the gill flap doesnt mean its a hybrid but it also could be…PEECAN or PACON…who knows!
but i have to admit it does have the shape of a fryin pan like a bluegill as where a shelly is usually not round, they are more sleek lookin. Im gonna go with the hybrid theory here…it happens all the time
That’s what I was thinking. Most redears have a sleeker longer body , this one has a bluegill body , redear coloring . gillchaser
Those boys look to be having a big time. Congrats to 'em on the catch!
gillchaser999,
Your fish looks to be a Gillcracker. Cross between a Bluegill and Shellcracker. I hear they can get pretty big!
Here’s a pic of one my buddy caught. It doesn’t have the red ear flap, but the top portion of the body has the markings of a Redear. The guys on bigbluegill.com said it was a Gillcracker.
No matter what you call them…they’re fun to catch and great to eat.
caught this one last spring just never got around to showing it off i dont think. Measured 11".
Heres another 11 incher i got along with the 132 we found the same day.
Wade, tell me you put that beautiful fish on the wall…
Young gun…NICE! CAN I GO!
Sorry sbcpower!
That fish did not go on the wall. My buddy’s holding out for a BIGGER one.
Great catch “Southern Young Gun”! Where did those come from?
If anyone is looking for a taxidermist who does incredible work and will do a free replica of your actual fish…check out Tim Overbaugh’s work. He does the best Crappie and Gills, etc. that I have ever seen.
Here’s a pic of a 3+ lb. Crappie he did for a friend.
I caught all the fish on Orange Lake down here in Florida. I wish that guy was closer, i catch a few 11" gills every year and would love a replica, have 2 16" black crappie in the freezer as well.
we chased some gills of size for the 1st time this past year…heres a few of our better ones…was a fun new experience for us…looking forward to doing it again more this year…even considering a trip after some shellcrackers somewhere…any way have a great one all, God bless
s
Here’s an 11" shellcracker i caught last week at Ky lake.
Chaunc,
How many did you catch? I’m headed down the 2nd week in May, which is typically a good time. Gonna fish Lake Barkley, which is next to KY Lake. Hoping to get into some good ones!
How was the Crappie fishing? I heard things are picking up down there, after a slow start to the season.
