Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Warmouth?

We have a local hatchery that supplies these but I can't ever recall anyone on the forum recommending stocking these. I am thinking about stocking these in my smaller pond. They seem to be a great option for kids fishing. Very aggressive, relatively decent growth, and the hatchery even mentioned they are able to help control their own numbers because they are more aggressive. (He did recommend higher tier predators eventually if needed). Granted the max size is not impressive, but kids don't care.

Online there is some overlap of people calling these rock bass, but this does not appear to be correct terminology unless I am missing something. Also one site listing as gsf, but I know that's not right.

I agree they are pretty easy to catch and are agressive. But, if you want eating sized fish, I'd stock HBG.

The easiest way to differentiate between Rockbass and Warmouths is to count the rigid spines in the anal fin. RB will have six, while a WM will only have three.

Rock bass as the name suggests tend to like cooler, bodies of water with rocks. Warmouths prefer vegetated waters or those with substantial cover such as downed trees or stumps. You would rarely if ever find them in the same body of water.

Would any of you actually stock warmouth in your pond? Or are they like GSFs. To be avoided.


Pat W

It depends on the goals of the fishery. I don't have any interest in them but I do not think they are near a problem GSF can be. I would consider stocking them in a pond where sunfish was a focus to add as a bonus fish. They likely wouldn't compete with other sunfish but rather would simply help control sunfish numbers.

I don't think they get very large either. I mounted a state record
Warmouth once and if I remember right it was just 10 inches and somewhere around a pound.