WHAT ABOUT ROCK BASS?

[Frank Ribble]

DO THEY BECOME STUNTED LIKE GILLS? ANYONE KNOW ANTHING ABOUT ROCK BASS? HOW DO THEY COMPARE TO GILLS IN REPRODUCTION? THERE GROWTH RATE MUST BE A LOT BETTER WHERE I FISH. THEY BITE ON ABOUT ANYTHING FROM CRANKBAITS, 2" BERKLEY MINNOWS, LIVE DARTERS, ETC. THEY PUT UP A GOOD FIGHT. DON'T LIVE LONG IN A BUCKET. ARE A GOOD CATCH & RELEASE SPECIES, VERY SELDOM DEEP HOOKED LIKE GILLS. SHALLOW CREEK BELOW A DAM I FISH HAS AN OVERABUNDANCE OF CREEK CHUB & DARTERS SOME SMALLMOUTH & LARGEMOUTH BASS, SUCKERS, BULLHEADS, MINNOWS, ROCKBASS UP TO 12, BLUEGILLS(MAX OUT AT 7" HEAVY FISHING PRESSURE), SUNFISH, NORTHERN PIKE, BOWFIN,  TURTLES, AND  AN OCCASIONAL CRAPPIE".  WONDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE DNR STOCKED MORE ROCK BASS.(DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY HAVE A STOCKING PROGRAM) HEAVY WEED COVER BELOW THE DAM DURING THE SUMMER.

[Jen Nayfly]

Don't know answers to your questions but I know they're tasty eating!

[Frank Ribble]

WHAT TASTES BETTER ROCK BASS, SUNFISH, BLUEGILLS, CRAPPIE?

[Dick Kahle]

When there all golden and crispy on the plate who cares which one is which.  They are all great eating.  In my lake the only way to tell the difference is size the bigger ones are generally rock bass.