What can I do to have a thriving bluegill pond? - Bluegill - Big Bluegill2024-03-28T23:42:37Zhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/forum/topics/2036984:Topic:663?commentId=2036984%3AComment%3A665&feed=yes&xn_auth=noYou bring up some very good p…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-12-11:2036984:Comment:655772009-12-11T15:46:52.705Z10.5" RES Sharonhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/SharonDianaHansen
You bring up some very good points, thanks
You bring up some very good points, thanks The implications are many for…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-12-11:2036984:Comment:655762009-12-11T15:08:44.153ZBill Codyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/BillCody
The implications are many for removing unwanted BG and dumping them into a creek, river or lake. "What can it hurt?" Firstly the states's DNR is not in favor of this private citizen stocking. They have numerous reasosns why. Visit your state's DNR website for more information on this topic. IMO it is naive about the laws of nature and good common sense to put excess fish into public waters. Just a few topics for this discussion include: proper identification, introduction of unwanted or…
The implications are many for removing unwanted BG and dumping them into a creek, river or lake. "What can it hurt?" Firstly the states's DNR is not in favor of this private citizen stocking. They have numerous reasosns why. Visit your state's DNR website for more information on this topic. IMO it is naive about the laws of nature and good common sense to put excess fish into public waters. Just a few topics for this discussion include: proper identification, introduction of unwanted or inferior genetics, possibility of internal /external diseases - parasites that include virus/bacterial, placing an animal out of its realm (pond) and putting it in a new habitat (stream or water chemistry), ability to compete in a new community, possibility of interbreeding diluting the genetic purity of species in receiving water body, upsetting the existing community balance of species and densities of receiving water body that may or may not need the extra fish biomass to compete with existing fish.<br />
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IMO there is too much of this philosophy of restocking excess animals/pets into public waters by people with good intentions while lacking a good grasp of biology and population ecology. The "do good stockings" have caused way too many problems of exotic species and introduction of unwanted species in supposedly well managed public water waters. The taxpayers then have to fund the attempts to "clean up the mess". The State's DNR has a hard enough time managing the public water let alone being helped by do good citizens who have no knowledge of complex natural ecological interactions. If the "do good" citizens were truly responsible they would not have allowed the source population to get out of control in the first place and/or would not have bought a pet or animal they eventually tired of and decided to donate it to the "wild". I thought this forum was so i…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2009-12-11:2036984:Comment:655732009-12-11T04:20:33.923Z10.5" RES Sharonhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/SharonDianaHansen
I thought this forum was so interesting, I would make sure it doesn't drop off the website, if they do. Anyway, does anyone remove the extra BG offspring from their ponds, and place them in a creek. river or another lake? Is it legal to do so? What could it hurt?
I thought this forum was so interesting, I would make sure it doesn't drop off the website, if they do. Anyway, does anyone remove the extra BG offspring from their ponds, and place them in a creek. river or another lake? Is it legal to do so? What could it hurt? RES management and harvest in…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-25:2036984:Comment:10812008-03-25T01:21:19.985ZTheo Gallushttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/TheoGallus
RES management and harvest in a pond with BG is of interest to me, too. It is harder (for me) to figure out since BG usually outnumber RES and RES can be more difficult to catch. I think the basic concept for sustainable harvest is the same, watching the RES population over time, leaving larger fish to perpetuate the best genes, figuring out how many can be removed each year without adversely impacting the population.
RES management and harvest in a pond with BG is of interest to me, too. It is harder (for me) to figure out since BG usually outnumber RES and RES can be more difficult to catch. I think the basic concept for sustainable harvest is the same, watching the RES population over time, leaving larger fish to perpetuate the best genes, figuring out how many can be removed each year without adversely impacting the population. The number harvested will dep…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-23:2036984:Comment:7342008-03-23T03:03:01.805ZBill Codyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/BillCody
The number harvested will depend to a certain extent on how dense the population is and its size structure - how many of each size category are present. Dr Bruce usually says that it is difficult to take out too many females, at least by angling. I tend to agree with this as long as you are harvesting primarily females. Heavy fishing pressure will result in some deep hooked males that should be harvested because they will die from too much stress. Removing females creates lots more growing room…
The number harvested will depend to a certain extent on how dense the population is and its size structure - how many of each size category are present. Dr Bruce usually says that it is difficult to take out too many females, at least by angling. I tend to agree with this as long as you are harvesting primarily females. Heavy fishing pressure will result in some deep hooked males that should be harvested because they will die from too much stress. Removing females creates lots more growing room for remaining fish, improves growth rate of remaining fish, and a large percentage of them will be large males. As I see it, one of the difficulties with over-using this philosophy is the tendency to over fish one's pond and thus producing hook smart BG at least the older larger males. But, this too can have benefits in that your pond's tophies have a lower vulnerability to poachers and the high number of wise males are suppressing early development of young males. Hi Bill, I subscribe to pond…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-23:2036984:Comment:7272008-03-23T02:24:08.109ZMark Allenhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MarkAllen
Hi Bill, I subscribe to pond boss and visit pond boss weekly, since finding pond boss I've gone from being a complete pond novice to ----well, still a novice, but I'm learning. I've read every article I can find on bluegill. Any idea how many females I could harvest out of my 2- 1 acre ponds? Should I treat my res the same?
Hi Bill, I subscribe to pond boss and visit pond boss weekly, since finding pond boss I've gone from being a complete pond novice to ----well, still a novice, but I'm learning. I've read every article I can find on bluegill. Any idea how many females I could harvest out of my 2- 1 acre ponds? Should I treat my res the same? Mark - As recommended on this…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-23:2036984:Comment:7212008-03-23T01:52:06.419ZBill Codyhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/BillCody
Mark - As recommended on this web site, when harvesting the BG try to put an emphasis on harvesting the females with catch and releasing the males. Use the info on this home page link to learn how to recognize males and females. If you do not subscribe to Pond Boss magazine I suggest that you subscirbe. It is a very good pond management magazine. Three articles in the back issues in 2006 (Mar-Apr, May-Jun, Jul-Aug) discussed sexing BG and how to better raise them to big sizes.
Mark - As recommended on this web site, when harvesting the BG try to put an emphasis on harvesting the females with catch and releasing the males. Use the info on this home page link to learn how to recognize males and females. If you do not subscribe to Pond Boss magazine I suggest that you subscirbe. It is a very good pond management magazine. Three articles in the back issues in 2006 (Mar-Apr, May-Jun, Jul-Aug) discussed sexing BG and how to better raise them to big sizes. Bruce, I just looked at your…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-22:2036984:Comment:6822008-03-22T22:53:03.149ZMark Allenhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MarkAllen
Bruce, I just looked at your bluegill photos, those don't qualify as panfish, they look more like sumu wrestlers!
Bruce, I just looked at your bluegill photos, those don't qualify as panfish, they look more like sumu wrestlers! Probably not if you already h…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-22:2036984:Comment:6802008-03-22T22:40:24.696ZBruce Condellohttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/BruceCondello
Probably not if you already have an embedded population. You've already been "selecting" for your particular system. :)
Probably not if you already have an embedded population. You've already been "selecting" for your particular system. :) From April through October I'…tag:bigbluegill.ning.com,2008-03-22:2036984:Comment:6752008-03-22T22:26:33.579ZMark Allenhttp://bigbluegill.ning.com/profile/MarkAllen
From April through October I'm there enough to harvest quite a few fish, so far we haven't kept any except to stock the new pond.<br />
We're starting a cabin there in a few weeks so were hoping to have some good fish fry's after it's completion.<br />
Would purchasing bluegill from a breeder with different genectics[size] be practical?
From April through October I'm there enough to harvest quite a few fish, so far we haven't kept any except to stock the new pond.<br />
We're starting a cabin there in a few weeks so were hoping to have some good fish fry's after it's completion.<br />
Would purchasing bluegill from a breeder with different genectics[size] be practical?