Dave,

I've got one real good advantage going for me, though. My lined ponds, which happen to have all of the snails, will receive about 8 gpm of ground water throughout the winter. Since my well delivers water at 55 F. then I think it may reduce a little of the wintering stress. Redears are usually introduced around here into newly renovated public waters and seem to exhibit excellent growth for 3-4 years, then they seemingly "disappear" and are displaced by bluegill. The Nebraska state record is 1 lb. 10 oz.

What do you think would be a desirable minimum length to get these fish to before cold weather sets in?

Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.