Fish of the Week: Andrew LaVeau caught a nearly 12-inch bluegill ice fishing in Lake County

Andrew LaVeau caught a nearly 12-inch bluegill ice fishing in Lake County. | Provided

Andrew LaVeau is the latest with an outstanding catch on the ice in Lake County with this bluegill of nearly 12 inches. He caught it in Lake County on a chartreuse jig tipped with a plastic.

“She fought so hard, I thought I had a giant crappie,” he messaged.

I wondered if it was a hybrid. But biologist Vic Santucci leaned toward bluegill because of the “all black operculum flap and long, pointy pectoral fins.”

A bluegill that size deserves a full-length view.

Full-length view of Andrew LaVeau with his nearly 12-inch bluegill from Lake County.

FOTW, the celebration of big fish and their stories (the stories matter) around Chicago fishing, runs Wednesdays in the Sun-Times. Submit nominations by message on Facebook (Dale Bowman), on Twitter (@BowmanOutside) and Instagram (@BowmanOutside) or email (BowmanOutside@gmail.com).