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

Andrew LeVeau’s nearly 12-inch bluegill, caught ice fishing in Lake County, earned FOTW honors.

By Dale Bowman

Resized/Sun-Times — Andrew LaVeau caught a nearly 12-inch bluegill ice fishing in Lake County.

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.

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).

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

Andrew LeVeau’s nearly 12-inch bluegill, caught ice fishing in Lake County, earned FOTW honors.