Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Green Sunfish Convert

Just had my two boys (8 and 10 yrs old) down to NJ (I live in rural upstate NY) for a 4 day "guys" weekend (fishing, beer for me, BB guns, fishing, model rockets, swimming, R/C planes, more beer for me, fishing, add crayfish, adding structure and yet more more fishing). I have "adopted" my uncle's 1.5 acre farm pond since a fish kill 3 yrs ago wiped out the LMB. We re-stocked FH, LMB in addition to bluegills and some Yellow perch 3 yrs ago. The pond never had green sunfish in it, but my kids had caught maybe 5 or 6 (max) sunfish YOY - 1 inch) from a river nearby that we threw in 3 years ago - I thought no harm. I did not know at the time the difference between all the sunfish species, but learned much on this website. I assume that is where the GSF came from. We did catch tons of regular bluegill this past weekend, but in one corner of the pond, the GSF seemed to have marked their territory and that is all we catch in that area. These guys are amazing - they fight well and I caught them on small feeder goldfish used for bait - they are big guys. I really like the diversity of the GSF in the mix as they are quite different from the BG and fight hard and patrol the shore in a very authoritative way. Only thing I see is that we are low on YOY hatches of anything this year - we only saw maybe less than 1 dozen small (1 inch) sunnies or bass - but didd see some 3 inch bass and sunnies presumably from last year. I also saw many active nests, so maybe the spawns are late this year. I don't necessarily blame the GSF for eating too many small fish - I think I was also overly rambunctious in my re-stocking of LMB and YP 3 years ago and we probably have too many predators overall. If you throw a worm in, you immediately hook something (we caught BG, GSF, and small LMB, but interestingly no YP)

Anyway, I know many people hate GSF, but I like the diversity they add and they are actually a nice looking fish with their coloring. I am going to let it flow for another year and not remove anything unless it looks like the population is getting out of balance. I also am basing this on what I have read on this site where the GSF will never take over since BG will outspawn them and LMB prefer the GSF for forage due to their lower profile. I think I need to get the checkbook out to join the GSF society.

JHAP will be with you shortly. It is a small group but dedicated

I've caught two over nine inches at my pond in the last week, and I thought for sure they were SMB when I hooked them. They are a great fighting fish.

Sounds like a fun weekend. I can't wait to do that kind of stuff with my son.

...and they eat good, too! Bigger filet than a BG of the same size.

Picture a small pond full of 2 pound GSF or WM...

...now THAT'S what I'M talkin' about!

Oldsconv your post is music to my ears. DIED and I have been trying to tell folks for a couple of years that GSF are fantastic fighters.

IMHO the primary reasons that most folks don't like GSF is that they are managing for LMB or some other larger predator and the GSF does not produce anywhere near as many youth as do BG (therefore they don't provide enough forage base). In addition their large mouth makes them a higher level predator than say a BG or RES and so they will compete with smaller LMB. Also, for most folks their GSF never get very large. So they consider them a nuisance fish.

Hook a GSF that is over 9 inches and you will have an entirely new respect for them. DIED has them 10 to 11 inches and 1.25 lbs (at last report). I keep saying that a GSF hits like a freight train and fights like a kick boxer on crack but it falls on deaf ears.

It is for this reason and the fact that GSF were being slandered on this website that I was forced to create the GSA. Unlike those hoidy toidy organizations like BISA, we do not collect membership dues. You can keep your checkbook closed.

The GSA membership committee conveyed a meeting at a top secret location in the wee hours of the morning and have approved your membership. Twice per year (more often is encouraged) you must stand at your ponds edge and recite the following pledge:

I pledge to manage my pond in the best interest of the almighty Green Sunfish and protect it from heretical blasphemy.

A secret handshake instructional DVD and your decoder ring will arrive via mail shortly.

Although we do not charge membership fees we may ask you one day to perform a selfless act of heroism to promote or protect the almighty GSF. Refusal of this request is not an option.

Also remember you may withdraw your membership from the GSA at anytime however only the GSA can terminate your membership.

Welcome to our most prestigious organization.

Me too, GW!!!

The GSA and WTF need to get together to discuss our fiscal year 2008/2009 hit list goals soon. I'll have my people contact your people.