DIDN'T THINK SUNFISH THIS SMALL SPAWNED?

[Frank Ribble]

IS IT NORMAL FOR 3" SUNFISH TO SPAWN. ALL THESE BEDS ARE 6" WITH 3" SUNFISH. THEY GOT A LITTLE SPOOKED BY THE BOTTLE. SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A BEFORE & AFTER PICTURE.

[George]

They could be genetically inferior fish which will never be larger than they are now.  There are many such fish and they try very diligently to reproduce. 

There are also two well documented types of small males who don't fan out their own nests but will attempt to fertilize another male's bed.  They are known as sneakers and satellite males.  The sneaker rushes in while the male owner of the bed is busy evicting another male from the bed and the satellite is a small male which looks like a female.  Both of these types attempt to use trickery to reproduce.

[Frank Ribble]

Thanks, very informative. I released a 27" pike nearby. Hope he is hungry. Awesome bullhead fishing at night nearby. Will have to catch a dozen or so. Caught one 14" this year. Some nice bass & bowfin. Huge carp. Also, severe fishing pressure. Although, a lot of catch & release. Rock bass seem to be growing quicker, than gills. I caught a 9-1/2" this year & a 12" last year. Probably, because of a lot of darters. DNR says stunted bluegills are a problem in southeast mi, with no easy remedy. Still, a fun place to fish. Will see if I can catch a 7" fish & send in a photo. Found out last night a state park I was going to try has most gills & sunfish under 5", but they have planted a lot of Walleyes. The Dnr's sampling didn't find the 8" gills one day this year. I caught at my better bluegill spot.

[George]

It's a strange phenomenon to me, the Bluegill tendency for small fish to be prevalent but it may be nature's way of providing forage.  Selective breeding in ponds/lakes can be done, using spawning enclosures.  Good fishing.  G