The bright green floater had hardly settled on the water before it suddenly disappeared. Instantly I snapped my wrist in reaction to the float. This immediately formed a bowing arch in the rod as the resistance of the fish began.

Long minutes passed while the fish battled my light action tackle. The drag of the Prodigy 1500 reel would occasionally squeal while surrendering line. This I knew was a good indication the fish was going to be a keeper. A keeper I intended to make into a dinner guest.

The result of the battle was soon occupying the ice chest. Quickly I attached another Berkley Honey Worm onto the #6 Aberdeen hook. Then with a gentle flick of the wrist I cast the bait back to where it had previously been. Like before the float disappeared in seconds and I was battling another big bluegill. Numerous other battles would occur before I had completed the making of delicious fish dinner. Now I could pack my gear and head for cleaning shack. Like many times before the bluegill had proved both fun and food.

The Bluegill...
The common name for Lepomis macrochirus is Bluegill. Other names for the bluegill are Bream, brim, sun perch, sunfish and perch. Distinguishable features of the bluegill from other sunfish are the dark spot at the base of the dorsal fin. Other features include a relatively small mouth and vertical bars on the side.

The back and upper sides are usually dark olive green blending to brown, orange or copper with a reddish-orange or yellow belly. Male's coloration intensifies during breeding and may appear on a reddish hue.

The bluegill generally begins spawning in late April-August in water temperatures ranging 67-80 degree F. Males prepare nests that can be formed by hollowing locations from sand or fine gravel in one to three feet of water. The male will defend the nest both before and after spawning against all other species, especially the males of other sunfishes.

The bluegill is distributed through most of eastern United States and has been introduced in many regions of the west. Bluegills can be found in lakes, rivers, ponds and streams within their respective ranges. Mature bluegills average less than pound but may reach weights several times above average. The record bluegill weight is 4 pounds 12 ounces.

Anglers will discover bluegills are generally not difficult catch and favor baits such as worms, crickets, and other insects. Bluegills are also aggressive towards artificial lures such as popping flies, small jigs, grubs and spinners.

Bluegills can be caught in a number of ways. During the spawn casting bait or lures near nesting sites is recommended. Post spawn may find the fish schooling in deeper water near vegetation. Here drifting with live bait or casting small jigs is recommended.

Redears...
The Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) often called Shellcracker, cherry gill, Georgia bream and sun perch is an anglers delight.

Like the bluegill the redear is a deep-bodied sunfish with a relatively small mouth. The color of the redear may range dark olive on top to an almost white belly. The species most distinct characteristic is the opercle (ear) flap of the fish. Males support a red color flap with females presenting an orange flap.

The redear's nickname "Shellcracker" comes from it utilization of snails as forage. Insect larvae, and cladocerans also are preferred forage. Redears are normally found near the bottom in warm water with abundant vegetation nearby. Redears also prefer areas of little or no current.

Redears have become one of my favorite species to fish for. The redear will prove to be an excellent opponent on light and ulti-light tackle. My favorite technique for catching redears is casting a black 1/32-ounce hair jig tipped with a white Berkley crappie niblet. A small float is then attached to keep the lure level with the bottom. The only left then is to hold onto your before one of these scrapers try to take it away.

The White Crappie...
The white crappie (Pomoxis annularis) can be identified by its deep-bodied slivery appearance. The back of the white crappie ranges from silvery-green to a dark green. This fish has several vertical bars on its sides and the dorsal fin having a maximum of six spines. The male may develop a dark coloration in the throat region during spawning season. The white crappie may exceed weights of over four pounds in some regions of the country.

White crappie's are members of the sunfish family and build nest for spawning. Spawning generally begins in spring when the water temperatures reach 65-70 degrees F.

The fry hatch in three to five days but remain attached to the substrate by an adhesive from the egg for a few more days. Fry do not appear to school until gaining fingerling size. Typically, white crappie grow three to five inches in the first year and reach search seven to eight inches during the second. Maturity is gained normally during the third year.

The white crappie can be found throughout the United States with only a few exceptions. Mature white crappie's primary feed on small fish and insects. The white crappie is primarily a structure-orientated fish. However during some periods the fish will suspend over cover.

Tackle for white crappie can consist of light action tackle or extended "crappie poles" such as the Cabela's Pinfish Pole. Excellent baits for white crappie are small minnows or lead-head jigs consisting of a soft plastic or marabou body. Casting jigs dressed with small curly tail grubs around nests can be extremely effective during spawning season. Whatever method the angler prefers can provide excitement and delicious table fare when this fish bites.

The Black Crappie...
Black crappie's (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) often referred to as calico bass, speck and white perch. Compared to the white crappie the black will have a deeper body and appear silvery-green in color. The black crappie will also appear with irregular black blotches instead of vertical bars. The dorsal fin will have only seven or eight spines and males do not develop specialized coloring during breeding.

In comparison of the two species both are about equal in range, spawning habits and mature weight. The black crappie however will be more robust in body construction than the white. Mature black crappie feed fewer on fish and more on insects and crustaceans than the white. Anglers will also discover another comparison is the black crappie also prefers clearer, acidic water than the white specie.

The black crappie has become my favorite of all panfish. The reason for this is I have found these fish will attack certain types of artificial lures. Small spinner type lures containing curly tail grubs can be lethal on black crappie. A 1/16-ounce Cabela's Wobble Jig fitted with a 2" curly tail grub has become one of the most productive lures I have found. These small lures can be easily cast with light to medium action spinning or spin/casting equipment. Anglers will find retrieving the Wobble Jig in a few inches above submerged vegetation can produce violent strikes. Black crappies are known for their aggressive nature and provide plenty of fight and delicious fillets.

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