A comment on some of the discussion about the bluegill-LMB combination in northern ponds. This fish combination works great in northern ponds where the fish are managed. Good sized LMB and bluegills can be dependably produced to yield an annual crop. But to do this one has to manage the fishery and not let nature do it for you. Goals of trophy bass, trophy panfish, or generalist fishery have to be established. The pond owner then has to work the pond as they work a garden paying attention to the crop, how it is developing and at times thin or adjust the numbers. If this is done and things are kept in a reasonable balance, very good results can be obtained with the bass-bluegill combination even in Michigan. Many pond owners do not take the time to learn what needs to be done to properly manage a fish pond. The pond owner just has to take some time and learn how to "work" in the pond (garden) and a quality bass-bluegill fishery is very possible in the northern pond. The Michigan Sport Fishery MSU Extension bulletin takes a generalist approach, observes the past stocking trends and successes and then assumes a pond stocking philosophy of stock it, forget it, and then fish it. This philosophy does not work in very many instances regardles of what fishes are stocked.
