Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations fish downstream from pond??

From top to bottom:

First pic, definitely immature GSF

Second pic, larger top fish immature longear but possible dollar sunfish second smaller fish definitely immature GSF

Third pic, larger top fish again an immature longer but possible dollar sunfish and the bottom two are immature GSF.

Immature longear sunfish and dollar sunfish can be very difficult to tell apart. If this stream you are collecting from is a small headwater, then I would suggest the fish is most likely an immature longear sunfish.

Check out the eye coloration and size to body ration on the the ones I said were longears(eye is reddish and larger) and then compared them to the GSF. Also look at the caudal fin shape. The longear has a more pronounced fork to the tail while the GSF tail is more rounded. You also notice in a couple of the GSF they are starting to get the tell tale orangish tinge to the edge of their tail. The immature longears have not developed the opercle flap "ear" yet...