The older they get, the more eggs they produce. A four year old female produces about 20,000 eggs. Bluegills will spawn over most types of bottom and often throughout the summer. Eggs hatch in three to four days. The tremendous reproductive ability of bluegills can cause problems for the fish pond owner.
Bluegills often produce more young than the pond can support.
When this happens, bluegill growth is very poor and few fish reach sizes desired by the pond owner. Corrective management is then warranted. Bluegills not only provide good fishing and eating, they are a major food item for largemouth bass. In a well-managed pond, bass abundance should remain high enough to control bluegill overabundance. Back to top Largemouth Bass Largemouth bass are the major predators in Indiana fish ponds.