Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Bass First? Bluegill later?

Ok, I don't remember what happened first. My hubby said to ask you. He's been fishing the pond for about two weeks and has bass activity--catching some pretty sizeable bass and sees smaller ones swimming around. When do bluegill show their pretty little faces, he hasn't caught one yet? I just got back form a trip to Louisiana (oh my the swamps were beautiful) so I didn't ask him what temperatures have been but I see it's 54 degrees this morning in Indiana so I would think looking at the green grass outside we're had warm weather this past week. Is this unusal to not see bluegill yet or is this back to maybe my stocking issue of needing more bluegill and not hybrid bluegill (which are less productive). Thanks. d

Both BG and LMB metabolism starts to come out of the slow winter phase around the low 50s F water temps. So that is when you would expect to see activity levels start to pick up noticeably. But you may not see them stay shallow at that point. When the water gets to the low 60s LMB are starting the spawning phase . BG start that phase a little warmer in the high 60s to 70 F. At that point the fish will be making nests in shallow water.

In MI my LMB are much more active than my BG, the BG are just beginning to take pellets and I have yet to catch one on a pole this spring

As soon as I see any, I'll let y'all know. I wish the weather would warm up some, it's so windy, wet & cold still and I'm a whimp. I'm excited, I want to see how big my fish get this year!