Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Copper Nosed Bluegills in NE Ohio?

Any experiences or opinions of stocking CNBG in NE Ohio? If yes, I am not aware of any sources for this fish. Any guidance is much appreciated!

Thanks - Jeff

It's not recommended. They would have to be scourced from the south. You could always try an experiment..

Wouldn't make it through the winter in Northeast Ohio.

I've read on here they won't make it in illinois let alone NW Ohio

CB1, I am curious as to why they would make it thru NE Ohio?

I would not suggest stocking CNBG that far north. Some die in my mid - MS ponds when we have ice over (1 inch ice) for a couple days. Plenty of cases where they die out in KY. Even if they live they will not grow to their potential IMO.

Sorry that was a typo. I corrected it. Using an iPad causes me to do that.

Coppernose even die in the south when it gets colder than usual.

Ditto.

The wheels were spinning there for a second..

BGK I can see those wheels spinning - hey I can grow some even bigger killer BG !!!!

I'm not convinced that CNBG have the potential to outgrow northern strain. Faster growth, okay....larger? I'm not sure.

Tony, I am trying the CNBG here. I don't care if they get bigger,I just love their body shape. They were stocked in 2011 so this year should tell me the outcome.

Plus they are so pretty in sunlight!!

Wish my wife could say that about me.

Same thing goes for Florida bass out of their native range or temp preferences. Both species come originally from peninsular Florida.

From my experience you're better off using a species or strain that is native to your region.

However you'd be surprised how many bluegills, bass, redears, and hybrids are shipped to the north from the big fish farms in Arkansas and Alabama. They aren't coppernose or Florida strain bass, but I know one supplier up here that makes dozens of trips down there to pick them up as it's more profitable to buy them wholesale than to produce them locally.

Ken I would be very interested in hearing about the CNBG's progress.....please keep us informed!

Va.Fish and Game stocked Fl. bass in the new lakes in the last 20 years. They produced many over 10 and several over 16 lbs. but as all new lakes the size has fallen over the years. Until they stocked the Floridas,a 8 lb.bass was a big one. If you would like to read about this,just google,Conner and Briey Creek Lakes.That is why I will try to grow out some in my forage pond in the future(trying to do gill-crackers this year).

Tony,Travis is going to be doing the heavy lifting on that pond, I am sure he will post some pictures(I don't know how).

In their range CNBG will outgrow regular BG both rate and size. There is a lot to growth rates. Much more than a simple concept. Outside their range CNBG will not outgrow reg BG and like all fish under stress they will first not meet their potential and then die as stress increases.

Ewest, how do we know that CNBG will surpass northern BG in ultimate size? What is the ultimate size of either one? Perhaps I am making it a simple concept, but assuming each fish endured an optimum environment for it's particular sub-species, which one has the potential to grow the largest? I've seen photos of 3-1/4 lb CNBG, but I've also seen 3-1/4 lb native fish....The current Indiana state record.

I'm aware that there are genetic inconsistencies that allow certain individuals to grow larger than others in the same year class, and I'm willing to acknowledge the possibility that CNBG might outgrow northern strain AS A WHOLE, or in general.

But....in a rare circumstance where the stars aligned perfectly, would the potental be there for a exceptional northern fish to achieve the same size as an exceptional CNBG?

That's why I have a problem with definitive statements that claim CNBG will outgrow BG in size. Usually perhaps, but I'm not willing to say always.

I agree.. I think CNBG will out grow northerns initially but I think Northerns will outgrow them in the long run do to longer life span..

Are the BG at Richmond Mill CNBG or Northern strain BG? Seems pretty far North for CNBG...but those fish are exceeding 3 lbs - really, how much larger could anyone expect/want a BG to grow? It's already freakishly/wonderfully almost unnatural! If they are CSBG, how do they survive so far North do you think? Constantly flowing water moving through the BOW keep temperatures up enough?

One of the things we should consider is "What is the average large or top end size for each one?" Yes the record weight of northern bluegill can be 3 lbs but this is a very rare occurrence. But in general the CNBG out grows the northern stain bluegill. A similar situation occurs with the Florida and northern strains of largemouth bass. As my example - the CNBG in Richmond Mill commonly get to 2.5 to 3 lbs as testimony by numerous pictures. Let's see a situation where northern bluegill are commonly growing to the sizes of 2.5 to 3 lbs.

RM has CNBG. It may also have some regular BG. The big ones caught there are CNBG. CNBG and reg BG have the same life span and reproductive ability.

I've been looking around...I could've swore that Bruce told me that both northern strain and Coppernose were in Richmond Mill, OR Aaron Matos's ponds, and were growing to tremendous sizes equally. Maybe I imagined it, but I'll keep digging.