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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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OP
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18 |
I am planning on doing a bowfin and green sunfish 1 acre pond. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with bowfin in a pond? (i have read other threads, but information is scarce)Stocking ratios? different forage? crayfish also? suppliers? Thanks
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,051 Likes: 277
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,051 Likes: 277 |
No experience with bowfin it lots with green sunfish. If the gsf is to be a forage fish, be aware that they only spawn annually. Thus is a poor forage fish.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13 |
Bowfin are cultivated in fish farms around Louisiana to harvest their roe - I'm sure there has to be someone out there selling stock
Mat Peirce
1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond
LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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OP
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18 |
as far north as I live, all the sunfish species only spawn once in a system...still undecided if I am going to do the standard hybrid bluegill or a straight green sunfish. (love the coloring of green sunfish)
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 534 Likes: 76
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 534 Likes: 76 |
Welcome to the forum, tr889.
Where DO you live? Location says NO-northern Ontario?
From what I just read on Wikipedia, bowfin will gulp down whatever they can, and at night, too.
Crayfish, aquatic insects, small fishes all are fair game. If I were to try to raise bowfin, I'd establish whatever multiple forage species as I could in my pond-several different sunfishes (Yay for the mighty green sunfish!), yellow perch, minnows. Any fish that was relatively inactive at night could be forage for the bowfin.
Since bowfin are reportedly not very desirable for eating, what may I ask is your interest in them? For caviar? For sport fishing?
Any thought to also having burbot in the pond? Burbot reportedly provide delectable eating. Two snaky predators together could really be a novel idea.
Please keep us up to date on what you do. This is unfamiliar and fascinating territory for many of us.
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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OP
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18 |
northern Michigan....they have always been my favorite fish...different and fun to catch
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18
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OP
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 18 |
I am also do not know how there growth rate will effect the fishery if I choose to stock them with largemouth at the same time. They say bowfin will grow 10 to 12 inches in the first year. Anyone have any thoughts? Anyone with experience stocking bowfin?
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668 Likes: 57
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668 Likes: 57 |
We have them in the lakes down here in La and Texas and I have caught a couple of them to over 10lbs. And have done the same with lmb. I can not say what your growth rates would be up there but here I have had a couple lmb grow over 3 lbs at or around 12 months old, and I don't recall the length at that time. I could go back a look though. But, if were going to stock them both, I would start out with the lmb being a little larger size than the bowfin, just for some added insurance, if there is such a thing when having both lmb and bowfin.
Last edited by TGW1; 03/25/18 07:12 AM.
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Tracy
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