Even though the term “stocking Ladder” was coined some ten years ago for Hybrid Striped Bass, T.J. is the first that I am aware of to successfully utilize this program, other than early HSB pondsters.

Since HSB are non-reproductive species, this is the only way to have a new crop on the way each year to take advantage of excellent sport fishing, table fare, and as T.J. mentions, the larger sizes are very efficient at controlling BG over population.
Thanks T.J.



For those interested in some ten years experience and history of Hybrid Striped Bass this link should be of interest.
It covers a lot of information from early pioneering in southern waters with valuable in-put from Todd Overton and Bruce Condello.
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92629#Post92629

This has been a successful ten year progran for me, but now starting over after record drought years wiping out my big HSB and Florida.LMB. Bonus kill for LMB allowing stocking program of Camelot Florida LMB.

We have a few 8lb+ HSB in little pond that get special care, a result of proven "stocking ladder" that has been utilized for many years.
We will restock main pond this fall with 8-10 inch HSB – another rung in the “ladder”.

George Glazener

Thanks, george!

This is my intent - add five or ten a year. I put in 20 4"-5" on April 14th. Today the five I just caught are 9"-10" and feel fat. Is that acceptable growth in four months?

An inch a month would be acceptable growth rate for our southern area spring hatched Hybrid Striped Bass.
4 to 5 inch HSB in mid-April would likely be "carried over" fish but don't know hatchery methodology for your area.

You have healthy fish - don't know the size of your pond/lake but annual stocking rate about right - "it all depends" on your harvest plans.
As you know, HSB are an outstanding sport fish as well as excellent table fare.
Good luck on your program.
George

Yo Vic

I think you'll see over 100% growth by the time the season is over - maybe up to 12" by November - and I think that's outstanding! By the end of next season you should be seeing fat 16-18" original stockers. Those are a blast.

I agree with George, buying HSB in Spring might mean small fish from 2012 or maybe just males. Nothing you can do about that now, but I'd recommend finding a hatchery/supplier in late Summer/early Fall that is offering 6-8" fish. Those should be this year's fish, and I'd select the largest they have to increase your odds of getting females [which grow much larger than males].

Thanks Guys. Bruce had attempted to explain exactly what you are speaking about to me - but I am not as smart as the average bear. After doing some more reading on here I think I understand. It seems like I got the slower growers left over. I always liked the runts of the litter though.

I will try to find 6"-8" now. Maybe I could tag them and see if they grow faster than the ones already in the pond.

Any fish you find that size right now SHOULD be age 0 fish hatched this year. I'd take the largest 10-15 they have on hand if that's the number you're going to ladder stock. Are you caging them or releasing immediately? No LMB to worry about?

I'm reviving an old thread because I have a question I couldn't find the answer after searching the pondboss forums.

I stocked 18 HSB about 3-4 years ago in my 1 acre LMB/BG/RES pond which are now in the 3-5 lb range. I'd like to stock 5-10 more this year and start taking out some of the older HSB.

Is there any size considerations for the stockers in a pond with LMB? Worded differently, do LMB feed on HSB? I've got LMB as large as 20" so I'd assume she could eat a 10" HSB with no problem it she could catch it.

Thanks,
Dan

I did my first stocking of HSB last fall, they were in the 6 to 7" size an I ordered some more from Todd Overton this spring. I believe he has some available now. And yep lmb will eat everything they can get into their mouth and sometimes bigger.
PS, it's nice to see George's remarks here

Tracy

Yes I fear the same thing DJ. I am in your exact same situation. My HSB are 4 to 5 pounds now my LMB are up to 20 inches and I want to stock some more HSB but I can only get 8 to 10 inch ones and not sure how to go about it at this point. Good question. Here are my very first non professional thoughts about it.

1. Could you gate off part of your pond say 10x10 with some chicken fence and let them grow for a while before you let them go? That's what I am thinking about doing. Make some kind of a round fenced type mini pool in your pond? Get them to 12 inches maybe then let them go?

2. Or you could just buy a few extra knowing some of them just might get ate??? I don't know for sure what to do either....

Anyone else have any thoughts on this??

Thanks,
RC

Build a cage or cages. Buy the biggest you can, toss 'em in the cage and feed them well until they are big enough to release into the pond.

Here is the data and the lost long Bruce/George HSB thread with ladder stocking.


Bruce :

I'd estimate risk of predation from largemouth as follows:

5 inch wiper--80% over one year in presence of LMB
6 inch wiper--65% over one year in presence of LMB
7 inch wiper--45% over one year in presence of LMB
8 inch wiper--15% over one year in presence of LMB
9 inch wiper--negligible mortality.

No scientific data to back this up. Just knowledge about existing ponds in which I've seen fish such as this stocked in ponds around here.


The thread
http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=11180&fpart=1


-----------------------------------------------------------------

My experience almost no LMB predation on 10-12 inch HSB -- but habituate the HSB in an enclosure for 24 hours.

That makes me feel better....thanks Eric.

All HSB owners should read this thread.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=11180&fpart=1

I started reading that thread before I posted my question but didn't think it'd move toward the question I asked. I've read it through now and find it chock full of good info.

I already have a "Bruce" cage that I reared 5-6" HSB and BG over a winter a few years ago. Those HSB did not grow much over that winter but should do much better this time of year. I'm gonna pull the cage out of mothballs and call Slades fish hatchery to see what size HSB they currently have available and proceed from there. Then I'm going to catch and eat a few of the first stockers to see if they are as good as others indicate.

Thanks all or the info.
Dan

Oh yeah they are good!! I had my first last month I couldn't believe it? IMO they are almost as good as BG... Almost Just make sure you get the red meat off the cut when you clean them. Watch a youtube video about it. There isn't much of it but they say it's real strong and not very good.... So yeah we took it out and fried them up and I was amazed.....

RC

Eric every time I read that article I get goose bumps to think of having 400 plus HSB in my 1 acre pond that average 3 to 4 pounds and up wow that would be soooooo sweet to fish... I can see why Bruce had everyone over there!! LOL... To think I only have about 20.... Man I got to get a few more!!!

RC

HSB are raised as a commercial product in aquaculture operations . Lots of info originated there.

Reguarding HSB how often would you say HSB in the 4-6lb range would prey on fingerlings stocked? Even if other prey sources are available in pond.

I think more often than the fingerlings that are in the pond already if both fish are the same size.

Something about new fish in a pond that sets them off as different from the inhabitants, not seeing a predator before, etc. makes them an easy target and a more visible one I believe.

If you want to reduce the "hammering" of newly stocked fish in a pond, put them in a cage for a week+ to get them acclimated to the pond water and other things in a pond before releasing them.

Habituation of newly stocked fish in a pond with existing fish is a sound concept with outstanding results .

See these on habituation .

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=22246&page=1


http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...=true#Post26019

Eric,
I get a "not found" error when attempting to click either of those links.

Try them now - above fixed.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=22246&page=1


http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...=true#Post26019

Eric,
That's good info... Thanks for re-posting the links