I caught and released several of these today out of the main grow out pond fishing for smallmouth broodstock for the hatchery pond.

I didn't measure or weigh them as I wanted to get them back into the water ASAP, but they looked to be about 9 inches and believe it or not, if past experience is consistent with the present they are about a pound even at only 9 inches.

They look as though they're bullies...very onery ones at that. Well done.

I've seen them get to a sinking feed faster than the smallmouth! At least last year they seemed to be more aggressive than the smallmouth. That may change as the smallmouth get larger.

I caught my first big female bluegill in the main pond today and put her into a cage with my other broodstock females and male perch. I had some bluegill escape one of my cages a couple of years ago. I've had some reproduction ever since but so far it hasn't gotten out of hand. Hopefully my sight fishing for smaller bluegills and the numerous smallmouth may keep their numbers in check.

Those are brutes! How old do you estimate they are?

VERY nice!!

Three years old I think but they could be four. Now that I bring bluegill indoors for the winter I can grow them even faster.

Cecil you gotta stop feeding those BG marshmellows.

Those aren't BG, they're Frisbees!

Very nice BG Cecil !! Thanks for the pics.

It will be interesting to see how long these guys live considering their fast growth rate. Inquiring minds want to know.

Likewise.

I only feed my adult fish of all species once a day in the evening to satiation, which is interesting as it seems lots of other people feed twice a day and don't get as good of results.

I have been feeding twice a day and it would seem my morning feed is much more active then the evening feed? I am doing 1 second in the morning and 1 sec. in the evening at this point for starters as I only been feeding for about a month now. Maybe I should just go to 2 seconds in the morning and be done with it?

Oh P.S. Very nice fish CB very nice!!

Cecil -- if I was a kindergarten teacher, and any of my students looked like that, I'd report a child abuse case.

Damn! How do I get some of those offspring??

Those things are incredible. Do those things have some Condello genes in them, or are they just something you've been working on?

Ken

Bill -- this is not to discourage or diminish your question. I too would like to get an estimate.

But, at that age, size, and weight, those are fish that could become a commercial success in high-end restaurants.

How much culling and work does it take to raise fish like that?

Ken

Oh yeah they have Condello genes in them! One or two generations removed at the most.

If it wasn't for the $300.00 VHS testing fee and whatever else your state might require, I'd be happy to give you some Ken! All you'd have to do is pick them up.

Can't Bruce overnight some fingerlings to you? He doesn't have to do the testing I require as he's not one of the Great Lakes states.

If you get some, put them in a an RAS tank or cage and feed them. By fall they should be large enough to release into the pond with the rest of the fish.

Cecil -- I may have to look at that. We've got to go to a wedding about half-way between your place and Bruce's, in late August. We don't know if we are going to drive or fly. If we drive, I may just take the truck and a tank with me! I should have several empty grow-out cages by then.

Ken

Ken, if you do decide to take a tank with you, get a small O2 tank, a Micropore diffuser and the appropriate regulater & flow control device as a back-up insurance policy.

Cecil also can tell you what chemical to get to remove ammonia from the water during the trip. Take along some defoamer too.....

I dont like to use the Lords name in vain but I just have to saqy it
OH MY GOD those are beautys !!!!!