Here's what we did to stock Richmond Mill Lake.
Coppernose bluegills from three sources including one from Alabama and two from Arkansas.
Northern strain bluegills from two sources, one in Arkansas and one in Oklahoma.
Redear sunfish from Arkansas.
Some could certainly be intergrades. Some are not. Some are coppernose. Some are northerns. When I electrofish, we always capture some small ones with that telltale bright colored copper tail. As they grow, the colors turn darker for some reason.
The water in Richmond Mill Lake is tannic, rich tea-color and fast flowing. Sunfish in there are always dark.
Bob,George:
Are the colors typically lighter of the coppernose gills in clear water? I ask this because this thread now has my gears turning.
Now that I have three recirculating system tanks running going on five, I could get my hands on some coppernose from Arkansas as one of my aquaculture directors picks up northern strain bluegills and other species several times a year down there. I'm sure he could pick me up some coppernose.
I still can't produce enough 1 pound and over bluegills to fill the demand for my taxidermy market and the controlled conditions of recirculating tanks are looking better and better. The demand is so great I recently sold a disfigured 1 lb. 7 1/2 ounce fish for $75.00. If it wouldn't have had parasite issues on one of the pectoral fin bases I could have easily asked for $100.00.
Typically when I post fish for sale they are sold out anywhere withing four minutes to that day. Howeveer they frown on dark fish as they don't paint well, which was my first question in this post.
Harvesting fish from tanks would be a breeze too vs. seining a 3/4 acre pond. Not as much fun but...
