Hordes of small bluegill, very few large ones

[JohnF52]

I wonder why there are so many small bluegill in Beaver and almost no big ones? In such a large lake, they should not be stunted, especially in the river end.

[J-Doc]

I think it's simply because the smaller fish are shallow and stay shallow. I caught a good eater trolling earlier this year. Bigger than my hand. I think the bigger ones are a little deeper and on underwater structure. Harder to find. Slip cork and bobbed with a worm would probably be a good option but requires a boat in most applications.

[Amery]

Yea that clearish water allows them to hang deep.

[JohnF52]

I know it should be possible to have large ones in Beaver. Years ago, I saw one well over two pounds at Lakeview on Bull Shoals.

[Stump bumper]

I have caught some big ones drop shotting around the bluff walls in 25-30 feet of water. Not what I was after but the bluff points on the south side of the RT12 bridge seems to hold big blue gills around big boulders and rock slides.

[Riverwhy]

In Fishermen says bluegill size is related to how soon the males develop gonads

[fishinwrench]

I never see big bluegill on LO either.

[Tallg]

Would his be considered a big one.

Caught in Arizona I believe.

[stlfisher]

I don't fish Beaver, but how is the bass fishery? Usually big bass lakes have a smaller average sized Bluegill population. Stunted bass lakes usually have lots of big Bluegill in them.

[JohnF52]

Beaver has a good number of big lm and sm bass and hordes of small spotted bass. I am going to try dropshotting for some bigger bluegill when the rains stop and debris clears out.