As a general matter I agree but note the following. Stocking any type of fingerling fish into a pond with adult GSF (which those are) is not a good idea. That includes BG or LMB or RES. While the BG can out-reproduce GSF the first BG have to survive in numbers high enough to establish a GROWING population and within the carrying capacity of the pond. That is far from assured when GSF are there ahead of time as in a year they can reach near carrying capacity of the pond. The idea that BG can easily take over is IMO an incorrect assumption. There is a good bit of data where that did not occur and GSF remained the dominant population and in fact kept BG numbers very low and suppressed LMB reproduction to almost 0. I would suggest you take out all the GSF you can and add some 4-5in CNBG in the spring (30). Keep in mind that in a crowded environ with BG and GSF #s out of balance you may get HBG (BG X GSF) with their pluses and minuses. There is a sound biological basis for negative attitude of fisheries scientists and pond managers toward GSF (stunting , swarming and predation) as a general proposition. GSF Association or not the truth of the GSF swarm is a fact in many locations. Truth is an absolute defense.



We chose adult largemouth bass and

green sunfish as predators because these are known

predators of fingerling largemouth bass (Carlander

1977).



Observers noted that both green sunfish and

adult largemouth bass preyed on the stocked fingerlings,

as anticipated. Predators were typically

very aggressive and often actively attacked

stocked fish. Fish stocked without habituation appeared

disoriented upon release and were often

eaten within minutes of release.


FWIW in this series of AFS studies predation up to 75%+ in 24 hours of the stocked small fingerling LMB was observed.





Last edited by ewest; 11/12/07 03:41 PM.