I tried your link but it pulls up a viewer that strips out the tables. If you know of the full article or pdf please link it to me. I'm going to try to track down one of the biologists in the area who may know about the RES stocking. Another summary page by the MI DEQ designed to give info about stocking fish in MI (dated 2004) gives this summary about RES in general:
Redear sunfish Lepomis microlophus often attain large sizes in heavily fished lakes. This species
grows rapidly while being rather difficult to catch on hook and line. It therefore has the ability to
supply a large, even “trophy-sized” panfish in lakes that are under intensive fishing pressure and are
known for small panfish. Redear sunfish should not be used as a replacement for bluegill or other
sunfishes (Towns 2003). Rather, the primary emphasis should be to provide anglers with the
opportunity for catching a few very large panfish.
Michigan waters are north of the natural range of this species; however, several reproducing
populations have thrived in the extreme southern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula since redears
were stocked in the mid-1950s. Since 1984, several more lakes have been stocked and reproducing
populations as far north as Eaton County have been documented (Saubee Lake–MDNR, Fisheries
Division, unpublished data).
Redear sunfish grow quickly and reach large size when compared to bluegill and pumpkinseed. In
some southern lower Michigan lakes, redear sunfish have attained lengths of 8 inches in three
growing seasons. Trap net catches indicate that redear sunfish generally average from 1.5 to 3 inches
larger than bluegills or pumpkinseeds in the same lake (Towns 2003). A similar relationship is
evident when comparing state average length-at-age of these three species (Schneider 2000).
Individuals as large as 10 to 11 inches should be expected within 5 years of introduction. After
diligent stocking efforts, many lakes in southern Lower Michigan now have significant redear sunfish
populations. Surveys have found many redear sunfish in these lakes that exceed 11 inches in length
and a few larger than 12 inches.
Larger redear sunfish feed primarily on snails, but also eat midges, mayflies, dragonflies, small clams,
and other invertebrates (Twomey et al. 1984). There has been some speculation that redear sunfish
may benefit from recent introductions of zebra mussels and help to control mussel populations. A
recent study by French (1993a) demonstrated that redear sunfish preyed on zebra mussels in aquarium
experiments, but preferred native snails. Another report suggests that both pumpkinseed and redear
sunfish will probably prey heavily on zebra mussels in shallow vegetated habitats (French 1993b).
More study is needed to determine if redear sunfish can detach and consume zebra mussels once they
are firmly attached to hard substrates.
Redear sunfish seem to do best in typical Michigan warmwater lakes that are high in marl, low in
turbidity, and are not heavily influenced by rivers or riverine species. Trautman (1957) reported that
wherever the redear sunfish has been introduced into waters north of its original range, it has
essentially adapted to non-flowing waters that were relatively clear and that contained some aquatic
vegetation. Lakes that have good pumpkinseed populations have proven to be good candidates for
redear sunfish introductions. However, a redear sunfish introduction is likely to reduce pumpkinseed
populations because these species complete for similar food items. Both species eat snails, but
Huckins (1996) found that the greater crushing strength of redear sunfish allowed them to shift from a
diet of soft-bodied insects to a diet of snails at an earlier age than pumpkinseed. However, this study
also suggests that pumpkinseed may be better able to eat soft-body prey items, such as aquatic
insects. While the superior snail crushing ability provides an advantage to redear sunfish, it is not so
overwhelming that pumpkinseed will likely be extirpated after redear sunfish introductions.
Michigan fishery surveys have found pumpkinseed populations co-existing (although at much lower
densities) with redear sunfish in lakes that have had large redear sunfish populations for several
decades.
In lakes with established fisheries where an eventual reproducing redear sunfish population is desired,
fall fingerling redear sunfish (1.5-inch) should be stocked at 100 fish/acre for 3 years in succession
(Towns 2003). This method assumes that at least two of the three-year classes will survive in high
enough numbers to establish a breeding population. In some cases, new introductions have resulted
in very large redear sunfish populations, with redear sunfish comprising somewhat smaller numbers,
but similar total biomass as bluegills in trap net catches (MDNR, Fisheries Division, unpublished
data). Newly established populations should be surveyed in the forth or fifth year to ascertain
survival, and determine if successful natural reproduction has occurred. Subsequent stocking may not
be necessary, but if survival to adult size has been low, alternate-year stocking may be used to
maintain the fishery
