Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Length for age

Well, jbrockey, the reason for this is simple. There is tremendous variation in growth of these fishes across the country, and even in different waters that are nearby.

Let me give you a couple of sets of numbers.

First, here are the South Dakota average growth rates (in general, should be slower than more southerly locations). These are average lengths in inches, by year.

age 1: 2.2 inches
age 2: 4.1
age 3: 5.6
age 4: 6.5
age 5: 7.1

Our FASTEST bluegill growth was an average of 8.8 inches at age 5. The SLOWEST bluegill growth we found was 5.9 inches at age 5, in pond with pretty high bluegill abundance.

Largemouth bass:

age 1: 3.8 inches
age 2: 7.2
age 3: 9.8
age 4: 12.0
age 5: 13.5

Our FASTEST largemouth bass growth that we have seen was 17.2 inches at age 5. Our SLOWEST growth was 10.5 inches at age 5, in a "stunted" bass population in a pond.

Hopefully, this give you some idea of the range that we see.

I'll bet that someone else can post some growth rates for Virginia. I'll watch the website, and if they don't, I'll dig some numbers out of a couple of books that I have.

Dave