Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Bluegill Question

It has been said many times on this site that bluegill are the best forage for bass. Now I live in OK about 1 mile from TX. What is the best fish for me Redear sunfish, Native bluegill, or Coppernose bluegill. My pond in about 1A and has channel cat, pearch, and around 20 bass. IT is also about 7 years old and is spring fed. The fish seem to be fat and happy, they are not fed anything by me. So would anyone suggest one of these species, or just leave everything the way it is. I know it is a small pond but my goal is still big bass.

I wanna add on another question while I am here. IN the new issue of pond boss, I see on page 33 the hybrid sunfish, and green sunfish pictures. The fish in my pond what I call pearch, are the size and shape of these fish, but mine are more yellow and gold not green. What do I have? Like I said earlier from what I can tell the bass in my pond are happy, so I guess they are eating them anyway, whatever they are.

Hey just thought of another question, the pond I am about to describe is in my mind but please play along. About 1A, in N Texas, about 15ft deep and spring fed. Now if this pond was stocked and prepared "by the book" with structure and fertilizer, and a feeding program, and correct number of fish stocked when they are suposed to be. Also if someone is willing to manage and fish it. What can be expected of the bass,(going for trophey bass) some 5pounders, in 5 years, 10 years, never? Once again this is if it is done right.

please if anyone could answer any of these questions, I was sitting here and got to typing and kept thinking of more questions. I can try to tell more about any of the questions if they are not clear.

THanks for help, JB

Why do you say about 20 bass? Is that how many you stocked or are you trying to count them from on to of the dam?
Do your "perch" have a long earflap? Long ear have a little larger mouth than bluegill and are very yellow when spawning. I think they look more like green sunfish than the other sunfish species.

Brian- I say 20 bass because thats how many adults were stocked. On the perch the earflap it looks a lot like the one fish on page 33 of the newest pond boss. I dont think they are long ear, they look just like the fish on page 33 but a different color.

thanks JB

I prefer native bluegills; some swear by coppernose. I have never heard of any reason to not stock natives. Redears should be about 15 to 20 percent of the 'perch' mix. They spawn annually but bluegills spawn multiple times depending on the climate. Bluegills have a black looking "ear flap".

Dave, your comments regarding preference for native BG over coppernose is of interst to me.
How do you tell them apart?

George, the Coppernose is a distinctive copper color. The native seems to exhibit several colors. I have some that are pale as a shad and others that are pretty fish. I stocked natives, coppernose, and redear. All I've ever seen are natives. I read that sometimes Coppernose don't make it and nobody knew why. Anyway, the only survivors in my water were the natives.

JB, back to your question. It depends on your goals. If you're looking for optimal growth, put in bluegill but if you just want twenty bass and a few small ones then leave it alone. The bass can get pretty big with whats there, they will just stop growing somewhere along the line.

Thaks for the info everyone, Does anyone know of a fish farm that sells native bluegills. And if so where are they located, the closest to N texas or S OKlahoma the better.

O there is a small pond around here, that is on the backside of dam of a bigger pond, the bigger pond has no fish, but this pond on the backside of the dam, it is low away from wind, has a lot of trees by the water shading it, and many kinds of vegitation and water plants in/around it. The pond in not even 1/2A but is crytal clear all the way to the bottom. Also multiple 4-9lbs bass in it. The only other fish is native bluegill. THe pond is at least 50 years old, so were these fish put in here or has nature taken care of the pond and let it produce and support many numbers and good size bass? I know the man that owns it and he lets few people fish it, but the ones he lets fish it, he lets them take only 4pounders and down. Maby this small managment plan and the pond in the middle of nowhere has allowed these big fish. All I know is that a small and clear pond, can support large numbers of big bass. Can anyone tell me why? or why it is so clear?

Thanks agian, JB

Contact Lusk to see if he has any bluegills.

On the small clear pond with huge bass; I would think they were stocked. If the water is too clear, it won't have an ecosystem that would support a population of smaller fish that become big. My PERSONAL expectation is that he has a bunch of pets. If you think about it, you have to hand feed fish in an aquarium.

JB, Go with Lusk first for bluegill. But if he has none, North of Paris on 271 is Brannans Bass shop. They sell stocker fish. Get them from somewhere in Arkansas. They are about 10 miles south of Oklahoma. Don't know where you are, but you might be close to em. Look them up on the web and call to see if they have what you want.

They probably get them from Arkansas Pondstockers. They travel all over the south and normally sell from area Coop stores. You might give them a call and see if they come to your area. I have had excellent luck all 3 times I have purchased from them here in Alabama.

Bob

thanks to all, once again help from many people, I love this site. JB