Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Coppernose suppliers near S. Indiana?

Could anyone recommend a company near Southern Indiana that sells Coppernose bluegills?

Jay

You don't want coppernose bluegills in Indiana. They won't make it through the winter.

how about northern arkansas?

Cecil,

Thanks for the input. I have read most of the posts about Coppernose but I may have overlooked the part about not being suitable for northern climates.

Would a hybrid be the best bet then? Looking to add some larger fish to an established 20 acre lake. It has plenty of bluegill with various sizes but seems to be missing any over 6 inches.

The lake has a healthy population of bass up to 8 lbs., stained water w/visibility of no more than 18 inches except in dead of winter. Also has gizzard shad, channel cat, and a few flat heads. Crappie are in the process of being thinned out this season since all are in the 6-7 in. range.

Some pellet feeding has been done for the past year and a half which has helped the bluegill some.

Any other ideas are welcome.

Thanks,
Jay

Your bluegills may be on the small side for several reasons. Trying to get their size up with feed in a 20 acre lake sounds like a waste of time to me. Addtionally adding hybrids will not help much.

Here are some possibilities why your bluegill are undersize.

Overharvest of bass in the size range most efficient at keeping bluegills in check, therefore too many bluegills.

Poor recruitment of bass so there are not enough in that size range, and only really large ones that prey on large bluegills. This is related to the following point.

Too much cover for bluegills that keeps their numbers too high.

Too many really large predators like flatheads big channel cats etc. that prey on large bluegills.

To much competiton from channel cats and/or crappies that are competiting with small bass keeping bass numbers too low.

Crappies eating yoy bass.

Competition between Gizzard Shad and bluegill that is detrimental to the bluegill. (Documented in Indiana reservoirs).

Feeding or adding hybrids will not solve your problem. Thinning crappies may help some. Your really should have someone come and electroshock and do a survey to see what is wrong.

Thanks again for all of the input.

I see several likely scenarios in your list.

We will look into the possibility of doing an electroshock survey. (private lake with lake committee involved)

Thanks again,
jay