So I am a very lucky man. I had the opportunity to have Bob Lusk come and help me get my pond off to a rockstar start. '


We talked long and hard, and decided upon this stocking pattern:

The pond was stocked with 50 lbs fathead and golden shiner fry 8 months prior to the main stock.

5000 copper-nose bluegill 1-2 inch
1500 copper-nose bluegill 3-4 inch
2000 redear sunfish 1-2 inch
300 F1 Tiger Bass 8-10 inch

1 Texas hunter feeder and plans for second and aeration in future.


Here are some pictures of that magical evening of bringing my pond to life!


Here we are at the start!



Here are a few my my boys already loving the great outdoors!




















Thank you so much Bob, and Chris for helping us get this going. I am so very excited about our pond!


Dustin

Congrats Dustin! How big is your pond?

3.5 acres. ill re-post some of the construction stuff. I have a ton of pictures

The bass seem very large compared to the BG and RES they are being stocked with. Hopefully they'll focus on all the easy FHM to eat and leave the BG and RES alone until they get bigger.

The bass are feed-trained, small mouths, heavy bodies. We stocked several sizes of bluegill and redear. For the size of lake and numbers of fish we stocked, the food chain will continue to grow and thrive. That lake will rock. Can't wait to watch the progress. Trust me, I won't stock a lake that I think has a risk of failure. Been there, done that...don't have time to fail. Pending the nature of Mother Nature, we'll be watching a lake that has potential for something of significance...especially with Dustin at the wheel. This part of Texas has an interesting climate. That's part of what will determine how well these fish will do. Dustin will have a say in the rest, with a measured risk. I've seen lots and lots of lakes over this 33 year career. This lake has an opportunity.

I must admit, it's not often I get to hang out with people who have a deep-rooted passion for life...Dustin and his wife and their boys have a great passion for living, for doing what they do...and they are doing it in a small west Texas town. I absolutely love what they are doing and have the utmost respect for them. Stay tuned...there's more to this "rest of the story".

CJB,

I agree, but we stocked 1500 4 inchers that i didn't post a picture of.. those were the 1-2 inchers that are in the picture... the awesome thing is... these bass are a F1 generation Tiger Bass that are Pellet Trained... they are already hitting the Aquamax. i have the Aquamax largemouth but they dont seem interested yet... they are after the 600.

I also know that the ratio of 100/acre is a bit high, we are betting on the feed training... i hope anyway.

Heh.. the Pond boss got to the response first!

Thanks for the kind words Bob. We are just blessed to live close enough to have you out to our place!

The LMB will eat the FH , and 8 mth old GShiners. Maybe pellets also.

Dustin, where in West Texas are you?

I have changed my signature.. i am in Childress, Texas, but grew up in Abilene, Worked in Albany, and went to school in Lubbock.

Great to see those kids having a good time with the Boss! Looks like fun! Exciting day for you Dustin I'm sure.