Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Warmouth?

What do you folks know about warmouth, Lepomis gulosus. My experience is they are not really desirable however they are usually in low numbers in most ponds. In other words my advice to client's is if you enjoy catching them fine, but if not when you catch one throw him out. It is not a reason to drain the pond and start over.

What spurred this question is I recently shocked up the biggest I have ever seen, and wondered what is the biggest warmouth anyone else has caught or seen?? I really used to like catching them as a surprise when fishing with plastics for bass as a kid. The GA record is 2 lbs and shocked one 1.3 lbs.
Thanks, Greg

Greg,
I come across warmouth quite often here in Texas. But, they usually compete with bass in lakes I manage. So, they can't compete because of mouth size and body shape. They can compete with bluegill for food, but bluegill outcompete them reproductively. So, I look at warmouth, also called, "rock bass" or "goggle eye", as a fish out of place, but not necessarily a nuisance. They don't have a negative impact on a well managed fishery.
The biggest I have seen? Maybe 10 inches, 3/4 pound.

Bob,

Not disagreeing with anything you say, but watch out for those local names. Up here in north country rock bass and google eyes are actually rock bass (Amboplites rupestris) and the warmouth is a separate species (Lepomis gulosis) called by many up here a "mud bass."

I mounted a state record Warmouth once here in Indiana that was a little over a pound so they do not get too big. However true ambloplites rupestris get bigger (I've seen 2 plus pounders in Michigan).

I've also noticed the Warmouth is a fish of shallow lakes, muddy bottoms etc. while I find Ambloplites in rock bottom lakes and streams w/ smallmouth bass.

Cecil,
We have the same thing here in Tennessee. I caught
a pretty big once in an old pond but I didn't know what it was at the time. I wish I'd have known so I could have weighed him. I would be willing to say he was 3/4 to a lb. He looked like a bluegill on steroids to me but with a larger mouth.
I took him over to a near by convenience store and a guy told me it was a Warmouth. He said you don't see too many of them around and that was a fairly good sized one. So I took him back and released him. That old pond is pretty well shot now from silting for 30 years or so and NO management to speak of except for very limited fishing being allowed in it.

As Cecil pointed out, up here further north Rock Bass is a different creature from warmouth. Rock bass have a large mouth especially in comparison to overall body size. They can eat similar foods as bass only not quite so large. They don't get much over a pound and that is for a large example. I think they would make a poor addition to a pond in terms of providing a food source and/or return for the amount and size of forage they can consume. They are really easy to catch however which is good for kids...

If anyone is not sure whether they have a rock bass or warmouth here are some pointers.

Rock bass (ambloplites rupestris) also called google eye, redeye, and rock sunfish

typically has horizontal rows of dark spots.

No teeth on tongue.

Anal fin has 6 spines

Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) Also called stompknocker, google eye, google eyed perch, and mud bass.

Both species have reddish eyes, but the Warmouth has teeth on its tongue.

Anal fin has only three spines

Typically has brownish streaks radiating from the eye.

Got back in town and looks like I got an answer. Thanks, Bob agree about the warmouth. I will have the pictures developed this week and scan and send it in. Sounds like 1.3 lbs was a big one.