Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing 2013

TJ, my guess would be that you have too many BG and not enough predators keeping their numbers in check.

I agree. What sized food are you feeding?

Aren't GETTING enough nutrients, or aren't UTILIZING those same nutrients? Pretty slow metabolic rates right now.......fish may be lethargic and simply not feeding like they were?

BG condition probably a topic for another post elsewhere. Suffice it to say, BG population management is an obvious part of the issue - as it is for any SMB/BG fisheries - we all know that. However, with approx 200 HSB, 100 WE, 200 SMB, 100 HBCP and 300+ YP in a 2 acre pond, I'm not looking at predator density issues. In addition, I'm harvesting at least 2000 BG annually, which is an all time high. I reported earlier in 2013 the BG population has been impacted through increased predation through noticable differences in the visible population - I just dont see the numbers around the dock I used to, nor do I catch nearly as many as in the past either through angling or with cast nets or traps. BG population will always be a management issue in a SMB fishery - but it's not that simple.

Still, for some reason, despite lower populations, these fish are under nourished - a problem I didn't have when my population was significantly higher a year or two ago. It's clear these fish aren't deriving enough benefit from pellet program. However, I'm hesitant to pump more nutrients into the fishery just to improve the BG condition - not worth it. I have a .4 ac pond dedicated to trophy MBG and FYP and can get my fix there. I think I'll let the BG go and see the impact my WE have when they hit 18-20", and more SMB reach the 18" range. Those gapes should allow for predation of 4-5" BG, and that should improve the overall quality of the BG. If not, I'll have a rare predator heavy/prey heavy fishery and let it go.

Population management shouldn't be an issue with the caged fishes condition though.

TJ, monitor your water clarity. See if that correlates to the pinched stomach syndrome.

Tony, I think you are getting what I'm saying...I don't think it's as simple as BG population/predator dynamic - not when the population is actually lower than it's been historically, and predators have reached gape capabilities which allow for predation on larger BG than ever before. Those are two new factors working against that theory being the sole reason. Something else is at play - and I suspect it has to do with feeding times and/or qty. of feed. SMB and HSB dominate the feeders when they launch - which is always 4 feedings 15 min apart over the last hour of daylight. I have noticed that I rarely see YP or BG feed during evenings any more, due to the heavy pressure of the HSB and SMB. I could likely address this issue by either adding a another feeder, or by including feeding times earlier in the evening or morning/afternoon I'd have much more BG action - and their body conditions would respond over time.

Scott - I feed 50/50 mix of 500 and 600 and water clarity seems to be following it's normal path over past several years.

TJ, What size BG are you targeting for culling? Also, when feeding your caged ones, how much do you feed and at what time intervals between putting feed over the cage? What I'm getting at, is are the caged fish being fed to satiation? I remember reading about the development of feed training LMB. In the R&D phase of the development of the LMB pellet, something peculiar was taken into consideration. Seems I remember that a LMB, and most other fish for that matter, when striking a pellet, only has so many strikes worth of energy, then the fish is fatigued, and a period of rest comes into play. This occurs whether or not the fish has eaten to satiation or not. Thus the pellet size was designed to get a good bite size, delivering X amount of nutrition into the stomach, before the feeding fish goes into siesta mode. I have witnessed this personally with hand feeding. The fish eat ravenously for a while, then stop. If I wait 20-30 minutes, they will again feed heavily for a while. It is my opinion, that what happens many times with auto feedings and hand feedings, that the manager feeds until the fish quit feeding. The manager says "Well that's it, let's set the timer for this"....and life goes on. All the while, the fish are getting rested for round 2?


I personally think that, in waters where the primary goal, IS NOT for BIG BLUEGILL, too much emphasis is put on removing BG. I read about establishing a forage base, with the use of FHM, and GSH. Personally, after doing the WE/SMB thing in my pond, I want as many small BG/GSF as I can get.I have stopped manual removal. Large numbers of small sunfish, will reproduce horrifically, taking the place of FHM and GSH.

According to Dave Willis and Bill Cody, my WE that reached 13 inches in less than a year, had to eat on average of .6 lbs. of forage. With an unknown # of CC, 400 plus WE, and 150 SMB,600+YP, and thousands of sunfish, that's a buttload of YOY.

TJ, how many YOY predators are in the pond now on a yearly basis? Could those YOY predators be utilizing the food that the YOY BG would be utilizing a few years ago?

To many predators competing for the same food that the bluegill is after. What kind of shape are your yellow perch in?

Drum role please! Caught my first trout on a hook since we started trying to turn this slough into a lake in 2008. 18" long and 3lb 8oz. I am getting it mounted for the wall!! [/img]

Solid fish!!!! Well done, sir.

Nice fish Blair; congrats

Blair - Congrats on raising some nice fish. Is that fish from the water that was perpetually green with bloom in winter back several years ago?

Yes Bill it is the same lake. Since I put the vertex aeration it has a very light green bloom all winter without the DO2 crash that I used to have this time of year. I think this fish was stocked in the spring of 2012 at 5".

Great Christmas catch!!

And that smile is priceless, Solid work!!

Glad to see the results of your hard work.

Really cool Blair!

A magical moment, indeed!

Well done Blair! I'm smiling just from seeing the photo!

Nice fish! Congrats.

Thanks everyone. Life is good

Nice fish! Congrats!!!

I think I'd "catch & release" that trout. (release into the grease)

Oh Canada..............

Congrats, Blair! Great looking fish!

Most excellent Blair!!