I am probably boring people with my updates but I caught 5 more biggish (7.5") shiners at a local swamp last weekend and stocked them. I have now put 380 shiners from 5" to 8" into the pond this spring. I also had put brush piles and spawning mats in. This past weekend I cut down 4 small (4' to 5') red cedars and threw them into the shallows for spawning cover. The water temperature was 69F on Sunday so they should have started spawning or will shortly, I hope.
This pond is on a recreational property and hour and a half away so I only get to it on the weekends. Last weekend, I also started fishing out some of the big bluegills in hopes that there will be less predation on the fry if the shiners manage to spawn. While fishing for the bluegills, I ended up catching one of the shiners I had released so there are still shiners in there. I will try to take a bunch more of the bluegills over 5 inches out this weekend. I'm hoping for the best.
