Bedding habits of coppernose bluegill

[Kiowa]

I put pea gravel in my ponds to create bedding areas for the bluegill and they seemed to like it quite well at first. Two days ago there were probably twenty large fish on the nests going around in circles or stationary near the nest. Yesterday I checked them and I saw only one fish anywhere. Do they abandon the nest like that or is there some other problem? The ponds are areated and the water is clear with visibility about three feet or maybe a little more. I checked the pond a few minutes ago and still saw only one fish. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Bruce Condello]

I'd be interested to know what region of the country you are in, and what your general water temperatures have been. I have seen this type of behavior around here, i.e. on and off of beds, and it has sometimes been to do with time of day, or fluctuating water temps. The bluegill always ended up returning at a later time.

Welcome to the group, Kiowa!

[Kiowa]

Hello Bruce, thanks for your interst. I am at Lake Kiowa, just south of the Pond Boss offices in north Texas. We have two ponds on the golf course that we are using to raise bluegill to put into the main lake and on one pond the nest are very thick and have a lot of fish on them. They have been on the nest for about two weeks. The second pond that I was referring to has lots of nest but no fish to be seen. It could be that they get spooked when I approach, however, on the first pond they are only slightly spooked, maybe two fish out of the twenty on the nest. The fish appeared about two weeks later than on the fist pond. That is an around about way of saying that I don't know the water temp, but I will check it out today and let you know.

[Bruce Condello]

That sounds interesting. I was thinking back to my favorite Interstate-80 borrow pit, and the fish do regularly disappear from the beds. I've always assumed that they've been spooked in some way. I think that the earlier in the bedding process, the more likely it would be for the fish to temporarily leave the bedding area.

[10.5" RES Sharon]

Would I be correct to assume that if the fish leaves the bedding site, all the eggs are eaten?

[Magnolia Rick]

The same thing goes on here in my pond. I think they just spooked by me. Water temp is in the up 70's I'll check again this. There all kind of bed in my pond, Gills and tipalia.

[10.5" RES Sharon]

It's Oct Rick. Are your BG's still spawning?

[Magnolia Rick]

I hope not. But there bedds all over my pond. what temp has never gotten below 75 degrees. let see if we can get a hit on this question. How late will gills span if water temp staies above 75 degree

[Magnolia Rick]

i just check the water temp at 6:00PM it is 78 degrees. Gills and tilapia are all over the pond setting on beds. Kiowa how big your pond? How old is it? did you stock it. And welcome to the group.

[Magnolia Rick]

Bruce
I found this link on an older post.
http://www.gameandfishmag.com/fishing/crappies-panfish-fishing/RA_0...

[Magnolia Rick]

The first spawn of the year normally occurs when the water temperature hits 75 to 77 degrees. Depending upon locale, that can be anywhere from mid-March to June. After that, subsequent spawns occur regularly throughout the summer, and bream have been observed bedding as late as October.

Man I'm going to have a bunch of fish>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[10.5" RES Sharon]

This was very interesting Rick. I'm a little jealous that you got an extra spawn.

[Zach Pierce]

I am not sure if my BG had time to settle in and spawn, but I have seen many Greensunfish.

I have not seen any beds, but the clarity in my pond is not the best.

I was wanting to catch some of the small fish just to see what they were but forgot to take the net.

My pond is full of small fish too, I just do not know for sure what they are. I guess next spring will be pretty interesting, plus once the feeder goes back up maybe then I will be able to see what they are.