What is size in inches head to tip of tail, makes a bluegill
worth keeping? I realize the bigger the better. Just want a measurement to go by.
Same question for largemouth bass?
Longcreek,
I am beggining to believe that when it comes to sizing your fish and what you want out of your pond really depends on of course your goals but what is called the PSD (Percentage Size Distribution) which is a math equation for figuring out sizes of fish in your pond and what you want. Do a search for PSD and do some reading on it. It's good stuff.
Here is an example of what I am talking about. Say you have caught 45 bluegill total. 24 of them were 6 inches which is ok in your eyes, and you would like about 50 percent of your BG to be at least 6 inches. Well then take the number of fish caught that were 6 inches or bigger and divide by 45 and then times it by 100.
24 / 45 = .53 .53 x 100 = 53 percent. So in this equation you are in your correct acceptable limits of 50 percent of your fish being 6 inches or bigger, and that a good thing.
I have found this to work quite well if you keep track and have a good day on the pond fishing. This will work better of course the more fish you catch when fishing at one time.
They say an acceptable PSD for BG is 50 to 80 percent at 6 inches.
And an acceptable PSD for LMB 12 inches or longer is 20 to 60 percent. So you would do that same math. If you caught 12 bass 12 inches or longer and a total amount of 20 bass what is your PSD?
12 / 20 = 0.6 .06 x 100 = 60 percent so your in the right range!
Hope that all makes since. And if I got something wrong experts please feel free to chime in and correct me.
