Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking a Stunted Pond

I have a pond that was stunted with bluegill a while back by and I'm looking to restock it. It's about an acre and is about 8 or more feet deep. I'm trying to find some out of the ordinary fish to stock it with. Any suggestions? PS I live in southern Michigan.

What are the species and sizes of each species (largest size and average) that are in the pond now?

there is probably about 20 20lb common carp and posibly around a hundred to 200 bluegill about 5 inches each

Hsb -hybrid striped bass( if legal)

Pumpkinseeds are cool

Golden red breasted sunfish

I have some saltwater species I hope to place a few of in my pond, but they probably wouldn't work in Michigan. Talk about out of the ordinary though!

I'd do all I could to yank the 400# of carp out of it. Wasted biomass in my book. Stunted BG are a good forage base for a lot of predators. What species does Michican NOT allow you to stock in your pond?

Scott, what does he stock to eat the carp?

best way to get rid of the carp is a 22 or bow and arrow.

I don't know about a .22 or any gun for that matter remember bullets bounce off water I know from experience.

All bullets bounce off of water. I would be a little worried about an 8 feet deep pond in Michigan experiencing winter kills.

Will hybrid bass repoduce in ponds and will they survive the winter?

Hybrid striped bass will not reproduce in ponds, but will survive through the winter.

I also have sunfish like you mentioned any other ideas

How warm does your pond get in the summer if the water stays below 70 trout might be an option. if you can i'd stock big ones to control the bg.

All of these are possible. However, some are harder to manage.

LMB
SMB
BG
HBG
HSB
WE
YP
RBT
CC
HCP
Many kinds of sunfish
Lots of other ones, but usually aren't done for various reasons.

Acronyms

What is YOUR favorite fish mitchfishman5 ??????

My favorite fish is sturgeon and grayling but both are impossible.
Will walleye repoduce?

Walleye will likely reproduce, but will have no recruitment. Meaning, the young will not survive to grow to adulthood. Not a terribly problem to have, as they make an excellent bonus fish along with hybrid striped bass.

Why would they not survive?

They're slow growers, fusiform and delicious.

Will tiger trout work? What are the requirments for them?

All trout require cool well oxygenated water. Seasonal stocking might be considered, but I have no idea how easy it is to source tiger trout.

First and foremost, Mitch, you need to remove those carp. Having 400 pounds of carp in a one acre pond is bad news. I imagine water clarity is very poor.

Your best bet, honestly, is to completely kill this pond. If you can, I would drain it, deepen it another 6 feet or so, make sure everything that was in it previously is gone. Then you'll have a clean slate and entertain those out of the box species you want to.

I agree, you need to remove those carp!
Catch them - not difficult in turbid water - chum them with fish pellets, corn or bread scraps - toss a baited hook and hang on -

Kill off the pond for 20 carp - you gotta be kidding.... ...
Carp are now being classified as highly regarded sport fish and are sometimes called "Golden Bones" - in reference to saltwater bonefish!
20lb trophies - wish I was close enough to help "eradicate"!
G/

I was considering the full picture when I made that post, not specifically just the carp, though that was part of the equation.

Mitch has made it clear that he wants unique species in this pond. In order to accomplish this, with Lord knows how many stunted bluegill present, the only way not to go the route of largemouth/bluegill, would be to kill it off. And being only 8 feet currently, which for carp, largemouth, bluegill, etc. would be fine, I think, if possible, draining and deepening would be a good idea.

This is based on how Mitch has presented his goals so far. I don't know if any of it is even possible in his situation.

I agree George. I would definitely be on board for a few fights with 20+lb carp.

I know that you were.. ... after two drought related fish kills, I hate the idea of purposely killing off a pond....unless for maintaining pure genetic re-stocking.

I have had good luck on a 1/4 acre pond controlling over-population of BG with HSB and ONE BC.
All female LMB would be another option.
George

Unless you were draining and digging it deeper to have more water in "reserve" for another drought. But then you wouldn't have to kill it, just drain and start digging.

Good free advice Scott - go back and read Perfect pond - Had one....
Easy to recommend killin' someone else pond or just diggin' deeper - yeah, right....