Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose HSB or LMB

I am getting ready to stock some Bass to control my forage fish and small BG. Pond is 1/2 acre and 1 year old. My fish guy has 4-12 " LMB and 4-6" HSB. He thinks the HSB would work better for me. Need advise and how many to stock. Pond doesn't have a lot of structure yet.

Exactly why did your fish guy think the HSB were better for BG predation in your situation?

With the advised plan, You can always add the LMB later, easier than later adding HSB. To get the best use of HSB for BG control, use the ladder stocking method in that you add a few extra every year or two. (This is maybe really why the 'fish guy' suggested this method since you may need to return often to buy HSB; ulterior motive). Then harvest about as many of the largest HSB. Smaller HSB will eat the smaller BG so balance the HSB population to coincide with the size abundance of BG. When you are harvesting BG bias the harvest toward primarily female BG. You ultimately may need to stock LMB to get effective control of the BG without you having to be manually removing numerous BG of various sizes each year. Keep us advised as to how it is progressing.

Thanks Bill, I am going to get about 75 HSB right now. Primary Objective is to reduce my FHM and Tilapia Fry and also to knock out my smaller BG. I will keep you posted on how this does. I have so many FHM that my BG hardly take food anymore.

I have an update that some may find interesting. I just stocked 75 HSB 4-6". One of them seemed a bit stressed and gulped air at the surface. Three or four of my Georgia Giant BG began to beat him up. Dragging him under and playing tug o war with him. I have him in a bucket now but the prognosis isn't good. He is probably headed for the live trap to catch a bothersome raccoon. Ironic that he was throttled by the very fish he was sent to thin out. The struggles of nature just off my back deck. Doesn't get much better than that.