The Year of the Bluegill

Check out Cameron's post over at T.F.M.  Could this be the year of the 'gill?  Why not make it the year of the panfish?  I am down for it.  I love panfish.  For me the Long Ear may be my favorite.  Nothing against 'gills.  I have caught many of them myself.  For me though the water I fish, the Monocacy River, has a lot of Long Ears in it which it why they are my favorite.  Besides being abundant in numbers, they are a handsome fish as well.  What is not to love?  In reality though either one would work.  Who doesn't love a fish who is willing to suck down a fly?  Panfish in the Monocacy River just absolutely crush top water flies.  They really have no choice...they have to because the water is moving and shortly dinner may slip away.  Not to mention that they are some crazy fighters!  They will put a bend in your rod.  I always think I have a monster on the other end of the line only to be shocked when I reel it in and it's like 5 or so inches in length.  Panfish have the way about them when they are fighting, they turn on their sides in an effort to get away making them fight even harder.  Such an awesome fish on the fly rod.  So, who is with me, or shall I say Cameron.... make 2013 the Year of the Bluegill (Panfish)?