Fish of the Week: Chasing big bluegills on "Lake X" in Wisconsin; 1st time driving on ice

Braedon Koerner with a 9.75-inch bluegill caught on “Lake X” in Wisconsin. | Provided

``Lake X’’ in Wisconsin’s Washburn County marked the spot for an ``epic weekend’’ and FOTW.

``My son whooped my butt on the ice and honestly I couldn’t figure out why,’’ Bill Koerner emailed. ``I had better electronics and more experience but this kid put some huge [bluegills] on the ice, including the pictured 9.75-inch ‘gill caught on a tungsten jig (3mm) and a waxie. We had 15 inches of solid ice and drove the truck out to our spots. Braedon thought it was cool because the truck GPS showed us on the lake, not on a road. First time for him driving on ice.’’

The first time driving on ice is a memory for life.

They brought home 30 bluegills, one perch and a 12-inch crappie. All bluegill longer than 9 inches were CPR (Catch, Photo, Release).

The take-home catch by the Koerners from an “epic weekend” on “Lake X” in Wisconsin.

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).