Forums36
Topics40,960
Posts557,935
Members18,496
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
9 members (4CornersPuddle, SetterGuy, Dave Davidson1, Sunil, gautprod, Bigtrh24, rjackson, Theo Gallus, Shorthose),
728
guests, and
191
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
OP
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939 |
I have been looking to build the perfect forage/bait pond for my area. Actually not build but instead utilize existing water around me. Fathead minnows and golden shiners have failed a couple of my criteria.
There is a question coming. I promise.
The green sunfish has, so far, met most of my criteria especially for fishing bait. There is, however, one BIG question left. If I take a small pond, with an established population of adult LMB,BCP and pour in hundreds of pounds of YOY green sunfish. What should I expect to happen to my fishery?
Last edited by mnfish; 06/18/14 04:37 PM. Reason: Whoops..BC and BCP only one letter but a huge difference :)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 315
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 315 |
They will ruin it I would suspect.
But if you want lots of green sunfish for bait, go ahead and stock them
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4
|
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 4 |
They will ruin it I would suspect.
But if you want lots of green sunfish for bait, go ahead and stock them Ditto. Green Sunfish are known to ruin ponds. They're aggressive behavior and large mouths compete with bass. They don't get very big and will stunt. I made the mistake of putting some in my ponds, from which I have been removing them every chance I get. The bluegills and pumpkinseeds are just starting to reestablish a healthy population. As far as bait, I'm not sure.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,145 Likes: 488
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,145 Likes: 488 |
Results will depend a lot on the amount and type of cover for the GSF. It has a better chance of working in a pond with minimal or no cover - bathtub type pond. Success decreases as amount of cover increases. Be prepared to renovate the pond. IMO it is a poor idea unless the pond can be easily drained or renovated in case the idea does not go as planned.
Question - ""What should I expect to happen to my fishery?"" if the GSF become abundant expect recruitment of all other species to be impacted, often dramatically decreased.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/19/14 03:58 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
OP
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 939 |
Thanks for the input guys...CRAP...I was hoping they were going to work. When I fish with them, the crappies, perch, and bass hammer'em. They are the hardiest sons of guns on the hook and in the bucket. Soooooo easy to box trap too.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,145 Likes: 488
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,145 Likes: 488 |
We are not saying they will not work okay. Just be prepared to renovate if the GSF do not meet expectations. "Roll the dice" and see what happens and report back. Consider it research. Results will be very helpful on this forum.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/19/14 07:47 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,493 Likes: 266
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
|
Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,493 Likes: 266 |
If you keep adding GSF and reduce the other predator #s it may work ok. Its not that it can't work its just that it will require a lot of work on your part to manage the situation (adding more GSF and harvesting LMB and BCP).
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|