Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Fry over winter

I'm just starting my second year as a pond owner. Here in Ohio, temperatures climbed to about 70 this past weekend. I was really surprised to see the amount of fry (not a few, quite a few) hanging out around cover and along the shore. Is this normal? I thought the little ones wouldn't make it through a winter.

Fairly new pond will have larger carryover than an older pond at capacity. Pretty normal I'd say.

I've also seen fry during the winter here in Western PA.

I couldn't really tell what species they were though. In one particular virgin pond that was just stocked with 27 adult bluegill in August of 2021, along with maybe 100 fathead minnows, I could see very small fry in January '22. So it was either fatheads or bluegill.

Yoy can over-winter, but it takes a big toll in colder climates (they starve). They need to be in good condition to have any chance. Newly stocked ponds with BG will start to spawn quickly (a couple of weeks) if possible (light and temp).

Thanks for the feedback everyone.