I've been talking to Dan Suttle at Suttle Fish Farm and he said they've had luck with "Farms in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have raised the Coppernose Bluegill well over one pound." Which it says on his web site.???
http://www.suttlefish.com/coppernose2.html Barry Smith a fish biologist and another hatchery owner said this in an interview:
Question: Now the coppernose, if it goes north, even though it is a southern fish, will it still exhibit a superior growth rate to the common bluegill?
Answer: That's a good question. Coppernoses aren't sensitive to low temperatures. So, based on the data that's available, I would say that there's no difference in the temperature factor in coppernose and common bluegills. But I don't recommend stocking coppernoses to anyone north of the Mason Dixon Line. I think that it is too far from its native range to do well.
Question: What bluegill do you recommend for northern fishermen to stock?
Answer: I think the common bluegill probably will be more suitable. These fish are different throughout the United States. For example, common bluegills are different in Illinois than they are in Alabama. Those fish have adapted to that area, and the fish that have adapted to that area will do better than fish will bring in from a different area.
http://www.nighthawkpublications.com/journal/journal164-5.htm My ponds in southern Indiana which is actually farther south of the original Mason-Dixon Line.
http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa041999.htm?once=true& We’re in the same “planting zone” as almost the entire states of Kentucky and Virginia.
I figure I’ll have the best of both worlds a northern bluegill that spawns three times and is easier to catch and trophy size bluegill that from what understand will survive just find up north or south of the Mason Dixon Line depending how you look at it.
I'm putting coppernose bluegill in my pond this fall. I'm just wanting to make sure I get the right size and number.
