Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New member from Missouri

Tyke, I'm not saying BC can't be managed in a small pond. What happens is that abundance of 8-10" BC becomes millions of 2-3" BC that stunt and never grow because there is simply no food and then the entire pond becomes a mass of very small fish...all skinny and barely surviving.

If BC are the goal...add LOTS of Golden Shiners, BG, RES and LMB to hopefully control/feed the BC and their yoy recruitment. BC spawn first in the spring, but conditions need to be perfect for a successful recruitment and when those conditions are met, the BC yoy decimate all other fish hatches and no young of year will survive to control or feed BC in later years.

Edit...the hatchery only suggested HBG to sell fish...they were of no use in your pond and are actually quite a hindrance to your goals...CNBG (coppernose bluegill) will not survive in the Missouri winter climate...even a mild one.

Second edit...If large BG are your goal..Buy a good quality fish feeder and feed a bunch of Purina Aquamax feed or most BG will top out at 5-7" until and unless a big BC hatch occurs, then as said earlier...everything gets much smaller and skinier quickly.