Sounds like a fun day and adventure! 9 inch gills are definitely nice gills! When I was a kid, I used to go to this summer camp for the deaf back in Wisconsin. I fished the lake every chance I got and that lake was full of BIG gills. Once I was fishing for bass at that lake and I was throwing a medium sized crankbait. As soon as it hit the water, something whacked it. When I brought it in, it was a 11 3/4 inch bluegill!
Shoulda checked to see what the state record was. I wonder what the lifespan of a gill is....I threw the fish back in the water, so it would be swimming in the lake still for all I know.