Do you love big bluegill?

Before work

I had 20 minutes extra this morning, so I decided to hit pond #1. We don't do anything with this pond, and hardly ever fish it. It's about 1/2 acre in size, I am still trying to decide which way I want to go with it.
These three were all I caught in my limited time frame. They went between 8 and 9 inches. I don't find that too terrible in a small BOW with no management. Perhaps with a little tweaking it could produce some bigger fish. I was leaning towards eradicating the population and starting over, but maybe I will fish it a little more first, and see what's present.

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Comment by Zach Pierce on February 24, 2012 at 2:29pm: If I were in your situation I would add a feeder this spring just to see what all happens to come up to eat. Then see how they grow while on the feed. You may just be able to get them nice size to eat until you decide for sure what you want to do.

Plus I am sure a few HSB would not hurt either.

Comment by Jeffrey D. Abney on February 16, 2012 at 3:37pm: The only way I would eradicate Tony is with rod n' reel.....good looking gills for the cast iron!

Comment by Tony Livingston on February 16, 2012 at 2:43pm: I appreciate the words of praise, but I should fess up and tell you that the last couple of hours have me wondering "what if"........

what if I just installed a feeder on pond #1.........

what if I added some HSB to pond #1 this Spring, since I'm getting some already for #3....

what if I rotenoned #1, then added Redear, HSB, and some female yellow perch....

what if I just stick with what I said earlier....

What if I can't sleep tonight because of all the "what if's"???

Comment by Walt Foreman on February 16, 2012 at 2:19pm: I hear you - I admire your practicality and focus. I sunk a lot of dough the past three years into ponds I don't even own, so I'm probably not the most rational perspective on the subject:) I have several ponds and lakes I manage for other people (clients) but then I also work with several ponds and one large lake under agreements I have with the owners that will allow me to offer guided trips for trophy bluegill when I get the fish to the size I want them (possibly, hopefully, within the next year). I can't imagine owning five ponds all my own - that's a dream come true.

Comment by Tony Livingston on February 16, 2012 at 12:19pm: I think I will probably let it stand, and concentrate my efforts on the other 4 ponds. There's only so much time and money to go around, I would hate to see both resources spread so thin that optimal results could not be achieved in any pond.

Walt, I do seem to have a penchant for growing hybrids in one form or another. I raise HBG, I have a large population of BGxRES hybrids, and I'm stocking Hybrid Striped Bass in one pond this Spring. Wait till warmer weather, some of our BGxRES hybrids are exceptional, I should get some great pics.

Comment by Walt Foreman on February 16, 2012 at 10:59am: The bottom two are gillcrackers, i.e. crosses. I have an idea for that pond if you're game for suggestions - if so let me know and I'll PM you.

Comment by cal okeefe on February 16, 2012 at 10:50am: those fish are decent ..that probally would be a great idea.. fish it kinda hard and see whats really in there.. where i fish theres one pond ive only fished once so i need to do the samething out at my spot also..