We have both HBG and BG in our lake. Looking at the fish stocked in 2000, there are a couple of very obvious differences.
The HBG are bigger than ANY of the BG. The BG range from 8 1/2 to 9 1/2 inches while the HBG range from 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 inches. Obviously, the HBG are much more colorful.
That I can see, there has been NO successful reproduction by the HBG even though I commonly see them on nests and with fry.
I stocked HBG again in 2003. These fish are now about 8-9 inches long. As has been stated many times, the HBG are more agressive than the BG.
We have some GSF/pumkinseed naturally occuring hybrids. So far, I haven't seen any special growth of these fish.
For us, the HBG are a non-reproducing "species". We use BG to provide forage and then use the HBG as a fast growing, agressive and very pretty pan fish. I hope to stock more of them this year.
