how fast do bluegill grow in a pond

How big is a one year old bluegill?

between 4.5 and 6 inchesAt 1 year of age: Bluegill will likely fall between 4.5 and 6 inches. At 2 years of age: Bluegill will likely fall between 6.5 and 8 inches. At 3 years of age: Bluegill will likely fall between 8 and 8.9 inches.

How many bluegills are in a 1 acre pond?

500 bluegillsA voracious appetite makes this fish readily available to fishermen and a favorite for young and old folks alike. Stocking. In ponds of average natural fertility, stock 50 bass and 500 bluegills per surface acre.

How fast do bluegill multiply?

A female bluegill can produce up to 60,000 eggs, depending on her age and size. The entire colony spawns on the same day, and the process may take anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. A male may attract more than one female to his nest and a female may deposit eggs in more than one nest.

How old is a 3 inch bluegill?

Bluegills have a high reproductive rate. Let this be a guide for your success. If you are doing things correctly, expect fingerling bluegill (1"-3"), post stocking, to be: 1yr=4.5"-6"; 2yr=6.5"-8"; 3yr 8"-8.9"; 4yr=8.7-9.4"; 5 yr.

How big of a pond do you need for bluegill?

Bluegill are suitable for bass/bluegill ponds larger than 1 acre. Population management becomes difficult in ponds less than 1 acre where stunted populations can develop. Bluegill should be stocked at a 1o:1 ratio with largemouth bass.

Can you have too many bluegill in a pond?

Smart nature straight to your inbox every week Bluegills are prone to overpopulation. This is accepted knowledge among many anglers. If you don't catch and keep a lot of bluegills out of a pond, you'll often hear a fisherman say, the bluegills will overrun the place. You'll soon have a pond full of runty, stunted fish.

How many bluegill can live in a small pond?

If fish average one-quarter pound, the pond can support well over 1,000. However, if you plan growing most to larger sizes, stock fewer.

What are bluegills favorite food?

Bluegills really like eating mosquitoes, gnats, flies, moths, and grasshoppers. They will occasionally eat crickets too if they land in the water. Occasionally, spiders and bees will be eaten up by bluegill too. Bluegill also really like eating aquatic insects like mosquito larvae and other aquatic bugs.

What is the lifespan of a bluegill?

Bluegill can live up to 11 years with average lifespan of 5 to 8 years.

Where do bluegills go overnight?

Bluegills are very active in the late afternoon right until around sunset. Once darkness settles over the land, bluegills retreat to shelter and try to rest until morning comes.

What do you feed bluegill in a pond?

0:435:03Feeding Bluegill - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMay be fed at a lower rate during the winter fish feed is normally available at feed and seed storesMoreMay be fed at a lower rate during the winter fish feed is normally available at feed and seed stores and farmers coops use a small fingerling catfish pelleted feed with at least 25% protein.

What do bluegill eat in a pond?

Juvenile fish feed on microscopic zooplankton such as Cladocera and Copepods. As they mature, Bluegill will feed on insect larvae, crustaceans such as grass shrimp, small baitfish, and even aquatic vegetation if other foods become scarce.

How many fish can a 1 acre pond support?

A typical pond stocking strategy for a warm-water pond would be 1,000-1,500 bluegills, 50-100 bass, and 50-200 catfish per acre. Many recreational pond owners, however, prefer to stock bluegills and catfish to increase the size and population of bass.

How deep should a 1 acre pond be?

Everyone wants a pond super deep. However, the average pond we dig is 12' deep throughout and depending on the size at least one area 15' deep. If the pond is large enough, say 1 acre we can dig a couple holes in the pond 15" to 20' deep and maybe 25' round. This is only done to save on the cost of the pond.

How small of a pond can bluegill live in?

Hybrid bluegill/sunfish are among the most publicized and promoted sunfish in the nation. We recommend them for ponds smaller than one-acre.

How many bass do I need for a 1 acre pond?

In a balanced bass pond stocked with prey fish such as bluegill and fathead minnows as well as some channel cats if you like, a one acre pond can generally support 50-100 bass.