Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Adding More Forage

After the renovation and all the pond is doing pretty well. Still way too clear and not enough bloom. But that is next years problem. I have culled a lot of LMB and the BG population is looking pretty good. Caught a bunch of big fat ones and just a few 14" LMB today so that is promising. There are good amounts of BG and LMB minnows swimming around too.

But alas, I am a "tinkerer" and want to add some more forage this month to help out. I usually put in FHM but I am considering a few hundred GSH. I could actually add more BG and nothing else if you think the GSH would compete with BG for limited plankton.

Right now the BG population looks pretty good and I would really like to put weight on the LMB and that has me leaning to GSH.

Of course I could do nothing at all but what fun is that? I would be interested in the wise forums opinions as usual. Also, since all seems to be stable now I am considering adding a few CC to the pond. Any recommendations there as well?

My name is Mark. I am a stockaholic.

I think the GSH will likely not compete with the BG for long as they'll simply be prudent fast bass snack... Keeping that in mind, you can stock them. They may take hold, if they do they will directly compete with BG for food. Depends on your goals, big bass go with the GSH. Big BG, don't stock either. As far as CC, stock. Only as many as you plan to harvest annually. Any more and they'll really be a biomass hog and will directly compete with the bass for food.

Good one Dave! I can't just leave it alone. I am a pondaholic/fishaholic too.

My goals are big BG and big LMB. A tough order I know. How about just adding more 2-3" BG for forage? There is not a huge price difference between what Zett's calls Silver Shiners and BG. In theory, the LMB will snack on the small BG and those that don't get eaten will spawn and keep the forage base abundant-right?

Now that I've culled LMB I want to fatten up the lucky survivors.

It depends on your checkbook. Small BG are going for about 25 cents or more here. So, if you can spend 75 cents to $1.00 per LMB within the first couple of days it might make some sense. If you think you are currently short on shortage I doubt that over a couple would escape immediate predation. If you are not short on forage you would be providing a solution where no problem exists.

However, that seems kinda short sighted. The usual objective is to create a sustainable forage base where LMB bite based on their predatory instinct rather than hunger.

I may be short on forage for the larger LMB that we transplanted back after renovation. That's why i am considering introducing more larger forage such BG or a lot of shiners in the hopes of providing larger forage for the larger fish.

I know most will get eaten and this is OK. i just want the bigger LMB to put on weight if possible. The 12-14" LMB have plenty to eat.

After what I have spent in the last 5 years on these ponds buying extra forage is a miniscule expense. Right now there are only LMB and BG in the pond.

Bass need forage that is 1/4 to 1/3 their length and it takes 10 pounds of forage for a bass to gain one pound. It's a matter of calories received vs energy expended. The "normal" bluegill from the hatchery is usually 2 to 4 inches. Those are eaten before the larger fish get a shot at them.

So, go big if you're going and get a bunch.

The largest fish are probably just getting to 4 lbs by now. The originals from my initial stocking in 2006 have had a tough life with 2 transplants and all. That's one reason I was thinking of trying to add shiners to the forage base. The pond is 2 acres so How many shiners and or BG would you add?