I too have am learning. I have 270 from 2 classes stocked and caught my first 4 pounder last Sun. Just started a new pond for HSB and crappie...a la overton...(slide show coming soon)
Plan is for an acre of open 16-20' and an acre of 4-6'. Theo, I'll try and get the FHs thick enough to walk on.
George, when does the mortality seem to come into play? May-June?
Have yet to experience the table fare but plan to this summer. Like the annual stocking “ladder” and plan to copy you! Do you prefer spring or fall stocking? Just switched to Aq 600 feed.
Dave, if it rains, I should have 20'+ and elec. in the works for
aeration.
Al, HSB mortality based on fishing stress, is due to increased summertime high water temperature and a “fighting to death syndrome”.
HSB must be landed quickly and resuscitated.
I use an O2 system that I copied from you, similar to the one you use for offshore bait.
Thanks for the idea.
May and June are prime fishing months – I usually stop fishing for them at all when the water temp reaches 80 degrees and higher.
Summer “die-off” of large HSB in Texas farm ponds is analogous to Striped Bass on Lake Texoma, when every few years there are fish kills of large fish during periods of drought and low water.
That is the reason that very few stripers over 20 lbs are caught on Lake Texoma whereas Lake Oauchita in Arkansas produces trophy striped bass over 40 lbs, being a deep lake with good water quality.
Good water quality and aeration systems are necessary for summer survival of HSB in Texas farm pond, and as mentioned deep water is a plus – wish we had known at the time our pond was dug…
I am a survivalist and stock HSB both fall and spring, into either main pond and/or “grow out pond”, based on size and availability,
Fish mortality of any species is a given, whether by fishing stress or water quality issues. It only becomes a factor with non-reproducible species.
I have only failed to resuscitate one large fish, but we celebrated its untimely demise with a grandiose fish dinner.
They are excellent table fare.
Anxious to follow you HSB/Crappie pond’
