Not the big lake.

[jdh]

Took the row boat out for panfish this weekend - as I didn't end up making it out on the big lake.  There is a good bite going on now.  22 gills & sunfish on the Gulp red waxworms.  I know every lake is different, but a dropshot with the hook about 18 inches above the weight worked for me.  This was in the mid afternoon and all fish bit near the bottom.  15-20 fow.  Never anchored, just drifted around.

 

-JDH

[coralee]

thats some good eating!

 

[Nailer]

Got about 20 myself last week. Great eats.  

[DIRTY DOG]

Yup my dad and myself went out and took 50 good gills in a couple hrs time, but ours were over 45' of water 3-5' down. The bites been on around here for about a month.

[Whatahoot]

Nice catch guys!  How do you like to prepare your gills?

For those hand sized gills I will filet them or take the heads off, gut them and scale them.  Salt and pepper (maybe a little Old Bay) and fry them up in a cast iron skillet on the grill until the tails are crispy (keeps the smell and mess out of our kitchen).

Now I'm hungry, What time is the fish fry?

[jdh]

The people I eat bluegill with don't like fish that tastes like fish...  So I fillet and skin.  I've been cooking 2 ways lately.  The first is way is in the oven with breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.  Dip the fillets in melted butter - coat with the parmesan breading and back in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 375.  This keeps the smell of frying out of the kitchen.  The other way is to coat the fillets in all purpose flower and to fry in a skillet.  I like both methods.

[Nailer]

I simply fillet them out (skin and all) dip them in egg, shake them in drakes, fry them at 400 deg (electric fry pan in the garage) in Canola oil, and chow them down. 

[EdB]

Nice catchin there!