It hurts to lose a nice daddy like this from the pond. He got a popper impaled in his gills. There was blood in the water as I pulled him out. A couple of nights ago, I saw another one about this size floating. It is probable that it was returned to the pond after being caught.
There is lots of info all over about handling bass and bigger game fish, but almost nothing about handling bluegill. Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough.
I always am concerned when I have to return a big unhurt bluegill to the pond. I wet my hands before I grab them on the sides, and I try to return them to the water as fast as I can. But, I always wonder how much it affects them. Is there a better way of holding bluegill when catching and releasing?
I crush the barbs on on my hooks. But there are always a few fish that get hooked in the gills or gullet, and the hook just won't come out without damaging the fish even more. I've always wondered if they can really survive if the line is cut.
Thanks,
Ken G.
