Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 399 



begin to fail. And in the winter time the Bluegill is taken in con- 

 siderable numbers fishing through the ice. 



The Bluegill can be taken with almost any kind of lure. Angle- 

 worms are probably the best, though grasshoppers are nearly as 

 good. White grubs, small minnows and pieces of fish or clam are 

 all good. The senior author has taken it also on small craw- 

 fish, with the fly, on the trolling spoon and with a small buck-tail. 



It may be taken either by still-fishing or by trolling. The most 

 popular method at Lake Maxinkuckee seems to be to fish from an 

 anchored boat, using two long cane poles projecting over the stern 

 at a divergent angle. A cork or float is placed upon each line, its 

 position being determined by the depth of water, the hook being 

 made to hang about a foot above the bottom. More expert or 

 skilled anglers will use a rod and reel but will probably not catch 

 any more fish. 



The Bluegill can be caught in various places, as from the piers 

 and elsewhere in shallow water near shore, from in and about the 

 bulrush patches in water 2 to 5 feet deep, from the Vallisneria 

 beds, or from the tops and slopes of the deeper bars where the 

 various species of Potamogeton abound. Probably the best places 

 are on the edges of bars where there are good growths of Pota- 

 mogeton amplifolius. The most noted place in the lake for blue- 

 gills is the well-known "Weedpatch". Other good places are in 

 the Potamogeton patches off the Gravelpit, off the Ice-houses, 

 and at the Sugarloaf . 



The Bluegill is a dainty biter, taking the hook slowly and de- 

 liberately, sucking it in rather than biting it. Not until after the 

 bait has been sucked in and the fish starts away with it is the 

 angler aware of what is going on; but when once securely hooked 

 then the fight really begins, to continue without cessation or abate- 

 ment of energy until the fish is landed. The Bluegill rarely jumps 

 out of the water as does the black bass, but by turning his side 

 toward the angler he is able to offer a resistance which makes the 

 sport very fascinating. 



Excepting the yellow perch, there is no other species in the lake 

 which is equal to the Bluegill as a pan-fish. The flesh is firm and 

 flaky and possesses a flavor of which one does not soon tire, and 

 the size of the fish is the ideal one for a pan-fish. 



As to feeding habits, the Bluegill appears to be by all means 

 the most omnivorous fish of the lake. Its dietary never offers in- 

 deed such a violent juxtaposition of unrelated materials as ex- 

 hibited by the shark, bowfin or goat; and does not so much re- 

 mind one of a world's museum or valley of Hinnom as a biological 



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