Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Unwanted bluegill in SMB, yp pond

Still looking for pic of RES gill rakers.

INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES RESEARCH DIVISION OF' FISHERIES MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION COOPERATING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN GERALD P. COOPER PH.D. D1111:CTOII Report No. 1689 June 10, 1964 Fish Section Research and Development Education-Game Institute for Fisheries Res. K. G. Fukano Dingell-Johnson Region I - Fish Region II- Fish Rigg~J;f+0 J'=ij:\} ANNE:X ANN ARBOR. MICHIGAN INTRODUCTION OF EXOTIC FISH INTO MICHIGANV by K. G. Fukano, H. Gowing, M. J. Hansen, and L. N. Allison

Redear sunfish--Lepomis microlophus (Guinther) This is a southern fish that has occurred in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to some extent. It ranges southeastward to west Florida and south westward to the Rio Grande {Forbes and Richardson, 192,)). Lopinot (1961) states that the redear sunfish can now be found throughout most of Illinois. Gerking (1945) states that the original range of the redear sunfish in Indiana has been obscured by propagation and stocking by the state fish hatcheries since 1932. A1tho'..1gh this fish has been planted in both lakes and streams in Indiana, it has thrived only in the lakes. Trautman (1957) claims that the redear sunfish was not native to Ohio and that where it has been introduced J.orth of its original range,

The redear sunfish has three anal-fin spines and large scales (53 or fewer in lateral line); teeth are lacking on tongue; the pectoral fins are very long and pointed at tip; the gill-rakers are short, blunt, and often crooked; the opercle has a broad scarlet margin (Hubbs and Lagler, 194 7).

Ball (1952) moved redear sunfish to central Michigan where they apparently can withstand winter conditions and reproduce in ponds. They appear to be less prolific than bluegills, and have no-l: become overly abundant when stocked with largemouth bass.