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BG X RES cross of some %. All very nice but some minor differences exhibited in them.

FYI Childers research

HYBRIDIZATION OF FISHES IN NORTH AMERICA
(FAMILY CENTRARCHIDAE)
by

W.F. CHILDERS
Illinois Natural History Survey
Urbana, Illinois
U.S.A.


4.1 Sex Ratios of F1 hybrids
Sexually mature F1 hybrids were collected from each population and sexed. Of the 10 kinds of viable F1 hybrids, seven were predominately males (RB, BR, and BG were 97 percent males; WG were 84 percent males; and RG, GB, and BW were approximately 70 percent males), two were approximately 50 percent males (GR and RW), and one was predominately female (GW was 16 percent males). Ricker (1948) determined the sex of 428 BR F1 hybrids in Indiana and found them to be 97.7 percent males.

In this paper R refers to red-ear sunfish, B to bluegill, G to green sunfish, and W to warmouth. Matings between individuals of different species are designated to P1 crosses and the resultant hybrids are designated as F1 hybrids. F2 hybrids are those produced by mating an F1 male with an F1 female. The P1 cross of a male bluegill with a female green sunfish is designated B × G and the resultant hybrids are designated BG F1 hybrids; GB F1 designates the reciprocal hybrids.



4.2 Reproductive success of hybrids
The reproductive success of each of the 10 kinds of viable F1 hybrids was investigated in one or more ponds. The occurrence and abundance of F2 hybrids were determined by seining, trapping, shocking, poisoning or draining the ponds after the F1 hybrids were one or more years of age. RB, BR, and BG failed to produce abundant F2 generations when in ponds which contained no other species of fishes. In contrast to these results, BR F1 hybrids produced abundant F2 generations in two ponds in Indiana (Ricker 1948). The other seven kinds of F1 hybrids produced abundant F2 populations when stocked in ponds containing no other fishes. Three of the seven kinds of F1 hybrids which produced large F2 populations when stocked in ponds containing no other fishes were also stocked in ponds with largemouth bass. RG F1 hybrids and GB F1 hybrids, when stocked with largemouth bass, produced only a few F2 hybrids. No F2 hybrids were found in the pond stocked with BW F1 hybrids and largemouth bass. WG F2 hybrids and GW F2 hybrids were stocked in ponds containing no other fishes. Both of these F2 hybrids produced large F3 populations.

I know of a hatchery here in Indiana that *might* have some BRES of superior genetics in a few years.....

I heard rumors of Condello BG/RES hybrids being attempted.....

With the Optimal BG food being eaten by both BG and RES, just think what those fish would look like in 2-3-4 years??

I've raised BRES, they were fun, just didn't have a market for them, probably should have thought of that before dedicating 6 months of labor to them. Still, was worth it...pretty important to ensure sex of the BG and RES, though, of course. I had a significant population of pure RES as I accidentally slipped one male RES with the females. Ooops. Still ended up with probably 750 BRES hybrids - they are growing but have noticed less tendency to feed train than straight BG at least in my personal experience. Sounds like many others have zero problems getting them to feed train...story of my life.

Thanks TJ. I think I had a little luck involved in mine taking to feed. I was feeding the bait fish the first year when I put them in and they make so much noise feeding it drew the BRES in also. Now when I drive up on the 4 wheeler the bait fish start hitting the top of the water, the frogs are lined up on the bank, and the BRES are there waiting. The BRES are really aggressive eaters. They will explode on top of the water and their backs and side will be completely out of the water. I thought maybe the YP would start to feed but I have yet to see any. Occasionally a SMB will make a pass through for a minnow.

Very cool - keep posting photos of those BRES please - sounds like a great fishery you've got going, nice work!