Originally Posted By: jpsdad


ewest in red

The point I was making was that the abundance of less than 6" bluegill increased considerably from 2000 to 2014 in electrofishing surveys. Why did the number of BG less than 6" increase in number from 2000 to 2014? ... what do you think most influenced the production of less than 6" BG during this period?

Improving condition of BG status resulted in many more BG being hatched and those were not the prime FH food source (to small at the beginning). Result many more small BG. Also electro surveys are not always unbiased - they are a tool not an answer.

As to question how would Pumpkinseeds fared in the absence of BG, it may well be that they would have been on a path of extirpation.

Very likely that FH could consume more PS than the PS could reproduce. This has been documented in BG only ponds after the intro of FH. In a few years BG were almost impossible to catch as they had mostly been exterminated.

It should be noted that the use of FH as they did it was a REMEDIATION of overpopulation conditions where standard predators utterly failed to control the BG and PKS. Growth rates of younger age classes of predators would have also have been weak as these youngsters were competing with BG, PKS, and crappie for food. These lakes were a lost cause and the FH, no matter how you shake the mustard, made an impossible situation a great panfish fishery. It was able to accomplish tangible benefits by the third year and with no extra management, provided an excellent environment for the production of large panfish for a minimum of 20 years.

There are many lessons to be learned here but one shouldn't think that FH can help every fishery. Those with existing excellent panfish fisheries might and probably would be harmed by their introduction.
Agree on last para.



Last edited by ewest; 08/22/19 12:19 PM.