Let's see what others have as opinions. Hybrid BG could be a better panfish compared to CNBG because HY bluegill have low recruitment of offspring.
If you want to try this combination and If it were my pond, as suggested, I would add the HSB this spring before the CNBG spawn. HSB won't spawn so when they get larger there will be no small predators to control the prolific annual reproduction that produces lots of small CNBG which small LMB would do if present. So to help prevent overpopulation of CNBG,,,,, either use HBG or add HSB asap to at least reduce the first year class of CNBG. Then ladder stock HSB every year or two to get predation of each new crop of CNBG.
You are embarking on a relatively unproven stocking combination. From my experience and knowledge the HSB-CNBG combination is a chancy endeavor, especially in a 3/4 pond, where it will not be easy nor simple to renovate to fix an over population problem of CNBG. In the first several years be watchful of signs of over abundant small BG represented by obvious high numbers, slow growth, and stunting.
Bocomo said the CNBG are already stocked so HBG are not an option. Okay- to get decent predation of the CNBG offspring of 2018 and beyond I think you will have to ASAP stock HSB and stock them in numbers as if they were LMB 50-100/ac. Let's hear other opinions.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/20/18 08:06 PM.
