Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose How many blue Gill an bass needed

Ok guys I'm wanting my BG to get good size I know I need more bass but my pond is roughly .25 acre I need to know how many bass an blue Gill I will need thanks

Welcome to PBF Jeff!

OK we have that you have a 1/4 acre and you want big BG. How deep is the pond, are you going to aerate, are you going to feed pellets and what do you have for habitat such as brush piles, vegetation, etc? Have you had the water tested?

If you can provide answers to these questions the pros should be able to get you started on the right path.

Again, welcome!

Bill D.

Jeffb,
Welcome to Pond Boss....tons of good info and helpful folks here. All legitimate questions by Bill D. Whatever amount of BG that you end up with, I would suggest stocking them a year in advance of your Predators (LMB). I would suggest stocking some FHM in addition to your BG for your forage base as well. Give your forage base a chance to prosper before adding your LMB. It was also recommended to me to stock about 20% of my BG forage base as RES (red ear sunfish). They will handle any parasites that you may encounter in your pond. My BOW was slightly over 1/2 acre. I stocked 400 CNBG and 100 RES along with 10 lbs of FHM in the summer of 2014. I added LMB, CC, and BC the summer of 2015. My pond is very forage heavy. I can catch a BG most every cast, but the LMB aren't so keen on hitting an artificial lure with all the live bait in the water. As the catfish become larger, they seem to be a little more illusive as well. When they were smaller, I would see them around the pellet feeder, now approaching 3lbs., not so much any more. Good luck with your stocking. Lots of fun.

I have not had water tested but it is well water its around 6 ft deep an I do plan on feeding pellets an I have 2 brush piles on each end of pond an yes I am going to aerate

Hang tight on stocking info until a pro comes along and gives some recommendations. You want a Pond with nicer BG in it, so I feel that you will want to stock LMB fairly soon after the BG. If not, the BG may soon overpopulate and cause stunting issues. Adding FHM now is a good idea so when the BG get larger they will have that as a food option, till they are wiped out. Southern ponds are different than northern ponds, so stocking is different. I don't know where you really fall in, I'm guessing southern. Sounds like Stickem has a stocking plan for a balanced pond or a trophy LMB pond.

Yes I am in Arkansas I know I want the bass stunted so they will eat more smaller BG I jus need some numbers thanks for everyone's input so far

Jeffb, do you already have LMB in the pond? HSB have a smaller gape than LMB, so that might be an option for controlling smaller BG.

It's a brand new pond I'm going Tues to pick up fish they don't have hsb

An another ? Will res cross with bg

BG and RES can cross but it is not common in normally stocked ponds. Nothing to worry about for your situation.

Assuming you are picking up 2-3 inch BG and RES then stock 400 BG and 50 RES. Also get 3 lbs of FH. Wait to stock LMB until fall and stock 25 6 inch LMB. Be sure of the fish (don't get HBG). Be sure to get near equal #s of male and female if possible.

Ok an that's for 1/4 acre ewest

Yes for 1/4 acre with feeding and aeration in due course.

Ok thanks for all the replys