Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

We want a trophy bluegill and bass fishery, we have been keeping the medium sized bluegill (6-8 in.), and the smaller bass, is this the right thing to do?

Views: 160

Replies to This Discussion

No, you don't want to keep smaller bass - they're the key to growing trophy-sized bluegill. I never allow any bass at all to be kept from ponds I manage for big bluegill; that way the bass overpopulate, which means they eat most bluegill at the fry or fingerling stage, and the bluegill that make it past that gauntlet are uncrowded and have all they want to eat, and will grow several times faster than a pond in which the bluegill are crowded.

Are you feeding with an automatic feeder? That makes a huge difference as well, and will give you a decidedly higher upper size limit than if you didn't feed. With an automatic feeder, you can expect to eventually have a few bluegill reach the two-pound mark if you feed multiple times daily during the growing season.

I also would not keep many bluegill of eight inches, as once they get to that size you want to allow them to keep getting bigger; definitely don't keep many, or any, over 9" if you want trophies. But not keeping any small bass is the biggest key by far.
I just noticed you said you want trophy bluegill and bass - it's nearly impossible to achieve both in a pond, as the ideal environment for growing big bass is overpopulated bluegill (lots of bluegill in the ideal forage size range) which invariably results in small bluegill, and the ideal environment for growing big bluegill is overpopulated small bass. So I would suggest prioritizing which fish means the most to you, and then designing your management plan accordingly.
Afraid Walt is right Nick. I think you can attain balance, but not trophy status. If you want trophies, going to have to pick which one is more important to you.
Walt going this route will make a good fishing pond for my kids. a pond with bunch of small bass and big gills will be fun to fish. Keep the big bass and small gills. I'm like Josh might do another pond for big bass. With having the two ponds should keep the kids and PAWPAW happy. lol FEED THEM CATCH THEM
http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Numb...
cut and paste this in your brouser. This is a great break down on setting up a Bigbluegill pond. LOL I got it posted in my pond floder at the house.
Yeah, Bill Cody knows his stuff.
In know that right. Just gotta read up before reather that after lol
That's actually how a lot of people have found Pond Boss. Realizing they made one mistake or another and stumbling across it and wishing they'd found it before they got themselves in trouble. But, you know, just be thankful there's a resource out there like that. It certainly is invaluable. I'm not done digging, so I basically will be giving complete credit to the great guys of that forum for my pond's eventual completion.

RSS

Latest Activity

Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
1 hour ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
1 hour ago
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Yup blue and white is an essential with my oldest son......."
7 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"My glass boat is going to the shop tomorrow, need an ignition system tune up, figured I would give it up during this extended heat wave.."
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on John Sheehan's photo
Thumbnail

July Bully jig/crawler piece

"Fun….my biggest fish yesterday was a three pound bullhead…..couldn’t believe he…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Glad you’ve had success with it………I always use pink to locate…"
yesterday
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Thanks for the  comment jeffrey, it has worked in the past but seems to work berret this year…"
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Great Habitat on the Albemarle Estuary…….7/20/2025

Always search for clues to why you’re catching fish in the area you’re in when so many areas look…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Beautiful 9” Class Warmouth……7/19/2025

Growing up in southeastern Louisiana the two most abundant species of sunfish in the bayous and…
yesterday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

THIS COLOR COMBINATION SEEMS TO WORK THIS YEAR

"Bleeding pink Silent Stinger and all pink jigs work on multi species in brackish water…..I…"
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Nice Round Specimen…..7/19/2025

Bleeding 🩸 tail working in the cypress roots……all of the coastal counties in the northeastern part…
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Some Bleeding 🩸 Coppernose Behind Last Week’s Buck Moon…7/19/2025

"The busted fins are also a dead giveaway to colonizing gills….."
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Saturday
DAVID L EITUTIS posted photos
Saturday
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Thumbnail

AN LATER SHOT OF THIS FISH BEFORE IT WENT IN THE FREEZER FOR A MOUNT

"it won't be back from the taxidermist till this coming winter some time, I CAN'T WAIT TO…"
Saturday
DAVID L EITUTIS commented on DAVID L EITUTIS's photo
Saturday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"Pleasantly surprised with a multi species morning totaling 78 fish…..we've had a week of thunderstorms and triple digit heat index. Wet July"
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service