We Fish With Crickets...Sometimes

This small pond has more bluegill, some quite large, than I've ever seen in one place and it can certainly stand having a few culled for the frying pan.

Who would have guessed that the lowly cricket would be such a delectable delight to bluegill?  Each cricket placed on the hook didn't stand a chance and as soon as it hit the water it was slurped up.

Hadley happily fished with her Pioneer Anglers custom three weight Lamiglas Fly/Spin build.  This may be the perfect pond bluegill fly rod/spinning rod since it's easy to cast short to medium distances and really makes game of bluegills of any size.

A typical bluegill from the pond though several that were caught were quite a bit larger.

Hadley and I worked out a process of her catching a cricket, me putting said cricket on the hook and casting it into the pond, giving her the rod, setting the hook, playing the fish, and me taking the bluegill off the hook.  Then repeat and repeat and repeat about fifty times over two hours. 

Hadley into yet another feisty bluegill.

I think she's got the "grip and grin" down pat and she felt like quite an angler with her Fishpond Elk River Youth Vest on.

A few of the larger bluegills that we caught were put on ice.  Twice this many were put back in the pond since we only keep what we can eat.


Last night we had dinner of fried bluegill fillets, slow cooked grits, and green beans with a sweet onion.  Quite a feast and Hadley was pretty smug with herself that she was able to bring home dinner for the family.

All in all part of a great day.