I removed these two small fish from the stomachs of a couple (6.5” and 8”) LMB. Up until this week I have found nothing or very little in the stomachs of the LMB, (overpopulated pond). This week I found 4 small fish, two were not recognizable and then these two. Could anyone help tell what they are? And if so are they this year or last year fish.





I’m new to pond ownership and fishing so any help is appreciated. Thanks,

Michael

look like bluegill to me

I agree with DIED they are likely sunfish-bluegill-redear sunfish and probably not green sunfish.

If their stomachs are empty now it might because they are post-spawn. They don't eat much when they're sitting on the beds. Pre-spawn my LMBs were chock full of earthworms.

earth worms ? they find that many in the water?

They look like small crappie to me. Do you have crappie in your pond the eyes are big which makes me think they mite be crappie if not bluegill

Yep, our pond is filled by run-off from agricultural land. I assume that when it rains, the earthworms come up and out of the soil then get washed down into the pond.

KSBASS, I don't think they are crappie. I have not caught one yet in the pond but doesn't mean they are not in there.

If they are BG did they have enough growth time to be from this years spawn or are they from last year. As overpopulated the bass are I would be surprised they would survive from last year. In three weeks 75+ small skinny bass were removed with empty or very little in their stomachs. This last week I catch 4 fish with smaller fish in them. Pattern changes make me curious.

My real question should have been how fast does a BG grow after hatching.

BG for sure.

Definitely not crappie, my feeling is they are BG another closely related sunfish or hybrid.

A lot of factors go into growth rates of BG. How well established is your BG population? Do you seem many small BG in your pond? Is your pond water clear or does it remain greenish in the warmer months?

I agree probably some kind of bluegill I have seined lots of small crappie and the eye just sticks out to me. but if you havent ever caught any crappie then probably a bluegill

It may be a late '12 spawned Bluegill, but not from this year, I wouldn't think.