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PS fill a different niche than BG much like the RES/BG combo. More likely that with lower reproduction and the same predator base (FH eating both and everything else) that #s of PS surviving to adulthood declined. In addition PS because they are smaller and live near the bottom stay both size and location wise in the FH bulls-eye more.


I totally agree with this. Resources for both PKS and BG were not as limiting as they were before the FH introduction. After the FH introduction there was plenty of food to go around for both PKS and BG. That said they used that food and probably together attained Fall standing weights that were a high proportion (though a ratio of less than 1)of their standing weights prior to the introduction of flatheads.

The point I was making was that the abundance of less than 6" bluegill increased considerably from 2000 to 2014 in electrofishing surveys. Why did the number of BG less than 6" increase in number from 2000 to 2014? It seems plausible that BG were able to use some of the resources that were earlier utilized by Pumpkinseeds. This is debatable, what do you think most influenced the production of less than 6" BG during this period?

As to question how would Pumpkinseeds fared in the absence of BG, it may well be that they would have been on a path of extirpation.

It should be noted that the use of FH as they did it was a REMEDIATION of overpopulation conditions where standard predators utterly failed to control the BG and PKS. Growth rates of younger age classes of predators would have also have been weak as these youngsters were competing with BG, PKS, and crappie for food. These lakes were a lost cause and the FH, no matter how you shake the mustard, made an impossible situation a great panfish fishery. It was able to accomplish tangible benefits by the third year and with no extra management, provided an excellent environment for the production of large panfish for a minimum of 20 years.

There are many lessons to be learned here but one shouldn't think that FH can help every fishery. Those with existing excellent panfish fisheries might and probably would be harmed by their introduction.

Last edited by jpsdad; 08/21/19 04:16 PM.

It isn't what we don't know that gives us trouble, it's what we know that ain't so - Will Rogers