Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Bluegill hunting - Pond Observation

Got a chance to walk around the pond this weekend and had a blast just observing what is going on in the shallow water. Here in Mississippi, the shorter days coupled with cooler nights have really lowered our water temperatures making everything extremely active in the shallow, visible areas of the pond.

As I often do, I took a can full of fish feed and began feeding small groups of bluegill that live in other places than right under the nose of the feeder itself(the most popular haunt). These little schools REALLY enjoy the added nutrition and make quick work of the food when it is presented.

The bass, which are not visible initially upon walking up, get fired up by this bluegill feeding and sneak into the action as soon as possible. I had a blast just watching them prepare to ambush the little bluegills trying to grab lunch. Interestingly, they do not just rush in. They cruise in slowly and try to pick out a very particular bluegill. They are apparently sizing them up and seeing exactly the one they want to eat or finding the one that makes a mistake by swimming too far out for the food. I got to see several blowups right at my feet once an opportunity presented itself by just being real still. Super cool to just slow down and observe all the action.

It's a tough time to be a smaller bluegill. You can really see the necessity to have structure in place for the babies...

Fall is an interesting time where temps drop back into the optimum range for fish growth. It is accompanied by increased feeding in preparation for winter. It's all about fish metabolism as effected by temperature.

I love to walk the banks. I don't see too much activity outside of right around the dock where the feeder is located, but my bluegill population is all out of whack right now. I've harvested a ton of bass in prep for a stocking of CNBG next month, but what I am seeing are what look to be juvenile? (maybe 6-8 inches) and fingerling bass swimming around with them. Right below the feeder there is one big bass that stalks around right under the bluegill. Looks like it is probably 4-5 pounds. Haven't seen it take one because the BG are so big out there, but I keep waiting.

I like to also walk around the bank at night with a flashlight. See how many are just sitting there resting.

We need rain, my pond is very low. The temps are a few degrees cooler her but its still damn hot. I do see more bugs hitting the water and the fish are going crazy over them. Seen a school of blue gill i added to the pond a month ago. First i couldnt tell if they were gsf or cbg but they were swimming in a school and ive never seen gsf school up unless its feeding time.

Seen a huge barn owl sitting on the bank this morn and he flew when he seen me. Love the wildlife the pond brings to the property.

Yes, that's right up my alley Horkstram21.

This morning I took it a step further than tossing in feed, worms, or crickets. I trapped around a dozen green sunfish babies out of the ditch that flows into our larger pond. Then I clipped their left fin and tossed them to bass cruising the shallows. We don't want them in the pond so clipping the fin ensures they'll be swallowed up quickly. It was wild watching the bass blow up on them as soon as they hit the water. Honestly, didn't even need to clip the fin they got eaten so quickly.

Eventually, we want to drain the smaller pond/ditch that feeds into ours and start it fresh as a true fathead/bluegill nursery.