Is it legal to use bluegills for bait? Not criticizing, genuinely asking. I remember reading that guy in Japan who tied the world record routinely uses them as bait.

No kidding..

I was fishing last night for blue gill or reds, whatever will eat a worm.
I worked some deep water, nothing biting, so I trolled near the bank.

Made a long cast with a drop shot worm, and immediately picked up a small sunfish, cool.

As I'm reeling him back all of a sudden my 4 lb line got REAL heavy... i thought oh boy this must be bigger than I thought... then I realized there's no way this is a sunfish, catfish maybe?

I was super gentle, a minute or two of letting drag out and catching back up... as the fish began to surface, he jumped, "Oh boy, a bass!" but I knew he'd throw or straiten my #10 cricket hook... he jump and tossed the hook right at the pond boat.... and out of his mouth popped a palm size red breast, still firmly attached to my hook.

crazy.

Great story ! That bass got away but you will have that memory as a trophy for the rest of your life.

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