Fathead minnows are best used in a start-up pond. They're slow swimmers and prolific spawners that come off early in the spring.
Adult bluegill definitely will chow down on your fatheads, especially the juveniles.
If you have bass in your pond, don't expect your fatheads to last much past the second spawning season. Fatheads won't be able to withstand the forage pressure they're getting from the larger predators.
In an existing pond, with a standing crop of bass, rather than stocking fatheads, you'll have better luck stocking adult bluegill in the 4-6 inch range. A bluegill that size is large enough to survive most predators and mature enough to hit the spawning beds running. A high percentage of the bluegill fry and fingerlings will end up in the food chain.
Editor, Mark McDonald
