This is from the very first batch and they have grown WELL. If you are planning on stocking Bluegill, Hybrid Bluegill, or have questions on what would work best for you, please contact us today! If you stock a healthy level of predators, you should be fine to stock Hybrids without negative effects. All waterbodies are different and so are the goals of those who use those waterbodies. First, I want to discuss a few details about Bluegill and Hybrid Bluegill. But if you have 10,000 Bluegill in that same pond they will grow 10 times slower, which is the cause of stunting. Consider how long until you stock again. In addition, keeping Bluegill that are the most common size in the pond will give them some more room to live and grow. However, with native Pondweed species, Coontail, Elodea and many others, spot treatment with proper chemicals or partial harvesting with weed rakes can be very beneficial. Both like an abundance of vegetation as they tend to hide from predators in water weeds where they also feed. Humphead of the male bluegill, smaller mouth than a straight redbreast, no distinct barring (redbreast trait), copper colored breast rather than the bright red/orange of the RB ( a bluegill trait), earflap is darker than most RB, and shorter than most RB. If you’re told differently, you’re being lied to. Hybrid Bluegill? This may sound like common sense advice, but many people are under the impression that catch & release fishing is always best. Immature Bluegills grow much faster than mature Bluegills because all their energy is going towards growth, and not to the production of reproductive organs. We usually recommend maintaining about 100 Largemouth Bass per surface acre to help control Bluegill. The hybrid bluegill is a popular sporting fish. A good general rule of thumb when stocking Bluegill is 300 fish per surface acre. They generally measure around 7.5 inches as an adult although yes, they get bigger!! The bluegill's segmentation in its pectoral fin rays mitigates the effects of fluid forces on the fish's movement. Since they grow fast, they also need more food. The video above portrays all the different types of Sunfish covered on this post: the Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), the Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), the Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), and the Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus). In the case of exotic nuisance weeds like Curly-leaf Pondweed or Eurasian Watermilfoil, we recommend complete elimination followed by replanting with native species. Most ponds have a limited amount of food available for Bluegill, and as a result, the more fish you have, the less that they will grow. For example, a hybrid bluegill is a cross between a male bluegill and a female green sunfish. Hybrid bluegill will reproduce within your pond! So, if the Bluegill in the pond are kept from becoming sexually mature, they will grow faster. Because of the above limitations, we only recommend stocking Hybrid Bluegill in certain situations. The bluegill is Minnesota's largest and most popular sunfish. There is no difference here between the Sunfish vs Bluegill. They bear a close resemblance to a Native Bluegill but have a bright red/ orange patch towards the back of their gill plate (see above). We successfully crossed Redear Sunfish with Bluegill at Beyond Seclusion. No Bluegill at all?” There are definitely some considerations when deciding how to stock (or restock) a waterbody. It is rare in the Lake Superior drainage. A Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) is an easily distinguished member of the sunfish family, and in some areas of the U.S. is known as a "shellcracker." As a result of the cross the Hybrid Bluegill is ~80-90% male, giving it a reduced reproductive potential and making it an ideal choice for those ponds prone to Bluegill stunting. Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Green Sunfish vs Bluegill: Forums Member List Active Threads: Pond Boss Magazine Advertisment Newest Members: mosc, GunpowderRanch, ewalds, MartinWill1989, rjkeens 16921 Registered Users: Forum Statistics: Forums 36. One drawback to Bluegill can be excessive reproduction to the point where they outcompete each other. Hybrid Bluegill (male Bluegill X female Green Sunfish) tend to survive very well. Manage the fish population by harvesting the most abundant size class of the most abundant fish. The Hybrid Bluegill is crossed between a male bluegill and female green sunfish. Redear sunfish are found in the deeper surface of the ocean. 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