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Where I live we have a few small lakes. The one I kayak fish is about 65 acres. We had the normal small to average size bluegill which were still small. A few years ago the community started to stock golden shiners.Now the bluegill are much larger. My theory is the bass and pickerel find the golden shiners more desirable and are leaving the bluegill alone and they are growing larger. Does my theory hold up? Pop
I would agree with that theory, also maybe the bluegill are feeding on the small shiner.
No, the bass and pickerel thin out the bluegills, so they don't become overpopulated, underfed and stunted.Quote:
Originally Posted by pop
I think it's a combination Pop. The Shiners are an easier prey for the predators and Bluegill will eat them too. One of my best jigs is tyed to mimic a Pond Shiner and we catch everything on it especially big Bluegill.
They aren’t leaving the bluegill alone, they just have less pressure now. A lake that size should have more than one forage species especially since it has two voracious predatory species. And the bluegill are probably eating small shiners so that aids in growth. Is there good cover in the lake?
No the lake does not have good cover. In the past the association has used chemicals to clear out a lot of growth due to lake front property owners complaining. I don't know why they complain, it is against the rules to swim in front of the homes. I have thought of putting Christmas trees on the ice to drop down when the ice thaws, but; they would probably charge me with littering. Glad the pan fish are bigger now. At one time the crappie were good, but not so much now. Will start stocking some crappie this year with what I catch elsewhere. Pop
Just FYI; I read here a few years back that Crappie need 100 acres or more or they can overpopulate and stunt. Christmas trees and a small boat could make a good piece of structure at about 3 am.
I would tend to think it could be a cycle thing and or possibly just more food for everyone in there . Hard to say for sure but more bluegill predators might mess it up ....and crappie are bluegill predators