TyW33

Just because bluegill are not classified as benthic feeders does not mean they dont feed on benthic invertebrates. Bluegill are well known to feed on everything that is available. thats what makes them such a great forage fish. It is for that reason that adding other fish usually will not "help take pressure off bluegill" (as you put it) Adding another species takes food out of the mouth of the bluegill, thus reducing the overall population. This is what BC is refering to when he talks about overlapping niches.

I have seen many bass over 10 pounds (the largest was 13) grown in bass/bluegill ponds. all these fish came from south Georgia where the growing season is very long. BC was right on the money when is said "there will not be a lot of them per acre". but it is possible to grow very large bass on a bluegill diet. I would love to talk to the guy who grows bass on gold fish, please forward that info Bill.

I like your thinking about diversity for growing large bass. I stock shad by the thousands for this purpose. but even the shad that is a filter feeder will impact the bluegill population so I dont recommend them for people who like fishing for sunnies (as you boys from MN call them)