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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 29
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OP
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 29 |
I have been harvesting LMB out of my pond, and feeding the bluegill and I'm getting more and more takers everytime. I want to stock some more forage. My bass only have BG and whatever else they can find. I want to either do crawfish or shad or shiners or something ideas or advice please!! I understand Whatever I stock I will have to accommodate a habitat for them and thats fine I just need something to feed these bass
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Most forage options, other than BG, will simply be a snack for your LMB. Nothing wrong with some diversity in your forage base but understand it won't be long before they're extinct.
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Joined: Feb 2012
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OP
Joined: Feb 2012
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Yeah I'm cool with that. I don't mind spending some money you know. Just wondering what some ideas would be and if any species mentioned would be bad???
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Crawfish, Golden Shiners or Threadfin shad all will work, although the shad are typically stocked before they spawn to give you the most bang for your buck.
LMB do the best with food that is 1/4 to 1/3 their body size. Small food and they expend too many calories for each bite.
Stock the size of food that corresponds to the size of LMB that you are wanting to fatten up. i.e. 12" LMB, 2.5"-4" fish.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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A common forage fish used to jump start a new fishery is the golden shiner (GSH). They will be eradicated just like FHM in a pond with LMB, but might last a little longer, especially if there's good vegetation and you're able to get adult fish.
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Joined: Feb 2011
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Joined: Feb 2011
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What about the black saltys from anderson? Has anyone tried these yet? www.blacksalty.com
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Joined: Feb 2012
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OP
Joined: Feb 2012
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I'm thinking about shiners, I've heard threadfin shad eat eggs is this true? I'm probably going to pick some up this week... And is there any risk with running threadfin shad, or shiners
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TShad eat plankton not fish or eggs. If you have a plankton bloom both should do fine. Shiners will eat eggs.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ask them for the genus and species (scientific name) of the black salties and you might be suprised.
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Joined: May 2011
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Joined: May 2011
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If you can, put in a second small pond to raise your forage fish, and then move them over for feed.
Like your GS, but, fatheads reproduce well with no predators too.
Water is the basis of all life, by design!
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I'm thinking the black salties might be a form of drab goldfish?? Anyone with experience?
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/25/12 08:30 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Bill, no experience, but from pictures, that's what I think.
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Yep, that's what I've been told.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Hookedup....Tilapia can also be a great forage for your bass. It may be late to stock them this year someone else can advise on that. But next spring you should consider adding Tilapia. Tilapia are kind of "3Fer". #1. Tilapia help with aquatic vegetation. #2. Tilapia are a great source of food for bass to eat because they are such prolific spawners even in their short life-span. They also help take some pressure off bluegill since the bass have more choices to eat. #3. Tilapia are great to eat....not just for the bass...but humans like to eat them too! Tilapia die in the Fall/Winter when the water gets cold (so they never over-populate), you have to re-stock every year, but there are many things ya have to do every year with a pond...so no biggie. Read more about Tilapia as a stocker fish at the link below: http://www.overtonfisheries.com/StockerFish/ForageFish/MozambiqueTilapia/tabid/74/Default.aspx
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Yes, black salties are a special strain of goldfish bred to be a bit(a very slight bit) more tolerant to higher salinity. They are sold as bait for saltwater anglers mostly.
If you do go with GSH, I would try to source the largest ones you can find, even if you stock less of them. If you can find 6"+ shiners, that would be ideal.
Call up Todd Overton with Overton Fish in TX. See if he still has any lake chubsuckers to sell. LCS are excellent bass forage. Getting them established in a pond full of LMB would be the trick. I had no issues getting them to do well when stocked before predators. You can also contact Greg Grimes. He may be able to source some large adult LCS to stock. He is in GA.
How big is your pond? If it's under 3-5 acres, threadfin shad or any species of shad are probably not the best option. If, larger the threadfins would be a good idea if larger bass is your goal.
Tilapia are legal to stock in NC. Contact Southeast Pond Stockers, they're near Wilmington and can supply you with them if you decide to go that route.
Also, you may want to stock RES. Although similar to BG but not nearly as prolific, they're just a little added diversity with lots of added benefits. Southeast Pond Stockers also has them.
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 29
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OP
Joined: Feb 2012
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I wonder if they would compete to much with my BG and if they extra waste would result in me having to aerate??? I really don't want to have to if I don't need to.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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Moderator Lunker
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I also worried about that. However, I never saw a biomass problem.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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