We evaluated the effects of stem density on the attraction of bluegillsLepomis macrochirusand largemouth bassMicropterus salmoidesto mats of artificial vegetation in a 5-ha impoundment in southwestern Ohio. We also used field enclosures to examine the effects of artificial vegetation density on growth of age-0 bluegills and on predation risk of age-0 bluegills (< 50 mm total length, TL) from largemouth bass. The densities used were 0 (zero), 400 (low), 961 (medium), and 3,844 (high) stems/m2. Underwater surveys of mats indicated significant differences in numbers of age-0 bluegills among vegetation densities; high-density mats always attracted significantly more age-0 bluegills than other densities. Numbers of larger bluegills (>50 mm TL) were similar among vegetation densities, whereas largemouth bass were more abundant near high-density mats. Lengths of age-0 bluegills did not differ significantly among stem densities, suggesting that selection of cover density did not depend on fish size. In addition, growth of age-0 bluegills over 117 d in enclosures did not differ significantly with respect to stem density. In field enclosures, high-density mats significantly reduced predation risk for age-0 bluegills relative to low- and zero-density mats; predation risk did not differ significantly between high- and medium-density mats. Laboratory experiments indicated no differences in predation rate between zero- and low-density treatments, but predation rates were significantly lower in medium and high stem densities than in low and zero densities, and high-density mats offered significantly greater protection than medium-density mats. This study, together with information from other studies, provides evidence that age-0 bluegills need not sacrifice growth for safety when they select high vegetation density under natural conditions.