Caught a few Green Sunfish last night (between rains) We've caught several nice BG and HBG. I was wondering if I'm wanting to enlarge my HBG and BG should I try and remove my GSF. Or should I keep the GSF? What are the pros and cons of the GSF? I've posted most of this before with trying to have a decent balance of fish. Adding CC on thursday, most of my bass caught have been between 8-16 inches. I'm just trying to figure out what I should keep in the pond and what I should try and cull out (with either filet or put in a cage) ( will try the cage when I get it built). I know I'm asking a lot of questions, just want to have a nice pond that we can enjoy and have a blast with the ultra lights. Larger BG/HBG are a priority if possible. Thanks in advance.

I'm kinda prejudiced toward the Green Sunfish. They put up a good fight and IMO out fight the others. And, in reality, you can't do a lot about them anyway. If you have BG and HBG, you will no doubt end up with more GSF.

If you want big sunfish, remove bass bigger than 13 inches.

I'm neutral on the cats.

Good deal. Right now, I don't have much structure I don't think in the pond. I was told by the PHO that they put in a christmas tree and then theres a large sunken log that is part of the bank. Thats as much as I know. Wasn't for sure if I should add more structure for the HBG/BG/GSF or not. Also, wasn't sure what would be the best type of structure to add.

I think GSF are a way of life in our part of the world Jacklegg. I'm in SE Ks and managing around GSF in my old pond, and just within the last couple of weeks have take out a dozen or so 2-4" GSF in my sediment pond that had only CNBG and RES stocked last fall. So who knows where the little greenies came from. Maybe in the 1-2" fish I stocked that I missed, maybe the GBH that visits regularly, maybe a freak thunderstorm, maybe Martians, who knows. But there they are. Will manage around them.

GSF in our part of the world are in every little stream and creek and the little buggers can swim upstream in an inch or two of water so pond overflows into creeks or flooded areas are a potential source.

Guys up north get pretty paranoid about the GSF. Guys in the south don't seem to worry so much. We here in the middle I think the GSF is just a way of life.

In my old pond I personally remove any GSF I catch (actually I cut the tail and spines off the small ones with scissors and return them to the water for the LMB). Once I'm certain my BG have the upper hand as far as sunfish go, I'll quit worrying about them. Seems like where they really cause a problem is in a new BOW where they get the upper hand on the other fish. Their large mouth makes them more like a miniature bass rather than like BG.

The big problem I see with the GSF (if a person likes pan fish and doesn't mind them competing with LMB for food) is they just don't get very big. Even the biggest ones are just barely big enough to be worth eating. But I do like the GSF genes in the HBG. The HBG get big enough to eat, and they bite a hook when the BG are too persnickety.

If it were me, I would remove the GSF as I caught them at least until you are sure your other fish populations are where you want them at.

No expert here, just learning as I go and only been at managing ponds a couple years. But been around ponds and creeks with GSF all my life.

Edit: If a person wants to remove GSF, a lot of small ones can be captured in a minnow trap with fish food or dog food as bait.