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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
So after 2 years my pond seems to be doing well in terms of overall health of the desired fish that I've stocked, YP, HSB, BG. I purposely have not stocked any LMB because I did not want them gobbling up all of the YP. My primary goal is to have a good YP pond with some BG mixed in.
After fishing this weekend, I got a hand full of YP, BG, but I also got about 10 small bull head. They appear to be very young and just big enough to bite the hook. I do not want to let the BH get out of hand.. I set a trap and got 2 more and will continue to trap them..
I realize I'll probably never get rid of all the BH but what are some other ways to help control the BH without having to sacrifice the good fish in the pond?
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13 |
HSB will eat them up...bullhead will cruise open water and surface feed, especially if you're pellet feeding your BG and YP. The bullhead will out compete both for pellets. Keep the traps running to monitor the BH and help reduce their numbers.
You are going to have to add some predators to keep those 3 species in check
Mat Peirce 1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
Yeah, that's kinda what I figured. I'll have to keep working the traps..Has anyone had success by netting them ?
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 224
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 224 |
Do you have regular BG or hybrid BG? Just curious how the YP and HSB are doing on maintaining the BG population.
I Subscribe! 3/4 Acre Pond: HSB,SMB,YP,HBG,RES
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
I have regular BG, RES and somehow ( I did not stock them) warmouth BG. My initial stocking was 400 YP and 250 BG 150 RES. After one year I added 50 HSB. So far I don't see any big issues with the BG population. The only issue is the BH. Not sure how they got into the pond but there are definitely abundant.
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13 |
Yep just keep the trap going. Are you using a cloverleaf? If so, try running a 2nd cloverleaf, bait daily and remove the fish. Your traps will be more productive in warmer temps but knocking down as many bullhead now before they spawn will be very beneficial. Once they spawn the fry area a great food source for your HSB, BG and YP. The fry stay balled up in a school for a period of time and are easy prey
Mat Peirce 1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
I have been using the cone shape trap. I need to build a clover leaf trap.. I watched a few youtube videos on how to build them. Seems simple and effective.
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,220
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,220 |
Hey KRM. Are you sure those Warmouth aren't GSF? You know their reputation for "Just showing up".
How you doing on thinning out those bullhead?
.10 surface acre pond, 10.5 foot deep. SW LA. The epitome of a mutt pond. BG, LMB, GSF, RES, BH, Warmouth, Longear Sunfish, Gambusia,Mud Minnows, Crappie, and now shiners!!...I subscribe!!
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
Just wanted to follow up / update on this since I just now saw Mike's post.
I am pretty sure they are warmouth BG but I will send a pic next time I get one.
We fished the BH very heavy all summer tossing everyone of them until the bite slowed down. It is now possible to catch BG with only an occasional BH mixed in. Definitely an improvement but the BH are certainly still present.
My HSB are now getting some good size to them so I am hoping come next Spring they will be putting more pressure on the BH population that remains.
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
So I was able to find some pictures of what I "think" could be Warmouth... I could also be mistaken. These were taken last winter...What do you think? Mouths look big on these guys.
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
Looks like a green sunfish to me
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 22
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 22 |
best way to control bullheads is to call up a bunch of iowegians like me to come and catch them and eat them.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,864 Likes: 298 |
That second pic reminds me of why I moved south. Brrr!
7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
It's hard for me to tell... I think it may be Green Sunfish.. on the other hand, the article Bill Posted says warmounth can vary in color.. this was an odd color BG
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 22
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Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 22 |
if you catfish take bullhead sides skin on and fish with them. Work good for catfish and bass.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,141 Likes: 488
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,141 Likes: 488 |
Those pictured fish are green sunfish(GSF). A very common panfish in most states.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 01/02/19 08:06 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 157
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 157 |
Bullheads are also good to eat. I have ate them before out of a bayou behind the house. I would put them in a barrel of water for a day or so to flush them out. Might even change out the water a time or two. All the pond raised CC are put in vats to flush out before processing. Looks like a GSF in the picture.
Nothing like seeing your bobber bobbing. 1 acre pond with LMB BG GSF BH CC and whatever else I can find Not after trophies I just like catching and eating fish Buddy R Hill
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130
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OP
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 130 |
Agreed. We ate them all Summer as we caught them.. We would skin them and put them on the grill. very good fish.. Looking forward to eating more in the spring until the point when their population is hopefully very sparse.
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 157
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 157 |
I have been adding them to my pond over the past several years and my son had added some over 10 yrs ago. I have yet to catch any. I did see a cloud of fry this past summer. I was hoping to get them started but all those hungry LMB in there may just be keeping them wiped out.
Nothing like seeing your bobber bobbing. 1 acre pond with LMB BG GSF BH CC and whatever else I can find Not after trophies I just like catching and eating fish Buddy R Hill
I Subscribe
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