Hello all;

In my .15 ac pond I'm looking to stock about 50 Triploid Black Crappie sometime this Spring/Summer with a goal of creating a trophy fishery - maybe challenging the current state record in a few years. However, I wanted to try establishing a strong FH population prior to stocking. I know I'll need some time to pull off a few spawns - with that in mind I want to get FH in ASAP [besides I'm aching for some projects to complete to cure this cabin fever!].

With that in mind, I need some guidance on the lowest temps FH will tolerate for stocking. FYI: Water temps in NE currently are upper 30's/lower 40's but should be rising significantly over the next few weeks to the upper 40's/low 50's.

Thanks in advance!

TJ

As long as you acclimate them, you can stock them as soon as the ice is gone. However, there is no real advantage to doing this until the water temp is about 60, when they will start spawning.

As a recommendation, once you get your crappies stocked, stock some 4"-5" GSH. They will be too large for your crappie to eat, however their young won't and the crappies will love the secondary food source besides just the FHM... That is if you are just trying to grow monster crappies.

Keep us updated on your experiment!

Just out of curiosity, where are you getting your triploid BCP from? I have never been able to find a source...

No advantage to stocking now? Ah, except to serve as a cure to this horrible case of cabin fever I've been battling for months! I not only get to hand sort 400 FH's, but also get to finally position my pallets for spawning. That's a couple of days I get an excuse to work on the land...and every excuse counts when the ground is frozen and all other projects are on indefinite hold!

I will certainly keep anyone interested in the loop. And that's great advice on the GSH...wonder if one needs to really worry about applying spawning mats as habitat for them? Any experience just allowing them to do their thing without creating spawning mats?

I too am looking for a reliable supplier of TripBCP. I have a source but I have approach the situation creatively - however I am thinking of contacting our NRD and asking them how one could get their hands on some. I know they stock them around NE...amazing it seems no one can find them in the forum considering the connections we all have. Maybe someone will provide a good lead for us as a response to this thread? Anyone?

400 fatheads does not sound like much.

Agreed Sunil - but it's a small watershed and I am a little paranoid about introducing invasive species so I want to hand sort and confirm species. Think I'm being too paranoid?

I think given a year with no predation 400 might establish themselves? That's my central inquiry...I'd love to think the population with exponentially grow.

400 FHM under no predation for a year will be 40,000! Well, maybe not that many but darn near close to it. I don't think you are being too paranoid. I have seen so many species mixed in the FHM from several different fish suppliers. Goldfish, carp, gambusia, GSH, GSF, BG, creek chubs, red shiners, dollar sunfish the list goes on... Guys wonder how GSF or carp got into their pond... I would be it wasn't eggs stuck to a birds foot or some miracle, it was sloppy hatchery practices where undesirable fish get mixed in with desirable fish. Hand sorting 400 FHM would be time consuming, but for what your plans are absolutely imperative!

Thanks for the response CJBS - I was hoping for a take like this on the issue and agree if one wants to spend the time and effort doing it right the first time it will most likely pay off in the long term.

I wouldn't mind GSH, RSH, or Creek Chubs so much...but lacking any topline predators in any of my ponds [no LMB only SMB and HSB] I worry the carp, bullhead, GSF would go unchecked and multiply without any interference.

Not to bag on GSF....sorry JHAP. I don't want the GSF curse directed at me. One thousand apologies.

I thought it was only going to be a month or two between the FH and Crappie. My fault.

If it's a year, that's different.

I'm kinda making this up as I go, Sunil. I think I've already accepted from the first post last night that I'll most likely simply use FH's to feed the CP on a weekly or bimonthly basis. I have a cheap source $4/100 and while that feeding process monthly might get a little expensive I could always try to introduce GSH or maybe even BG whose fry could help take some burden off the FHs?

Muhaaa, Muhaaaaaaa, Muhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

One thousand apologies accepted.

I wonder for the TBCP pond if having a few spawning pairs of BG or GSF would help supplement the steady diet of FH and ease the reliance on my wallet...I doubt any would make it past 3" or so...perfect size for an 18" BCP.

Did I just suggest stocking GSF? Something....is controlling....my mind....seems to be coming....from the West coast...no longer...in control of thoughts....

JHAP you are too much! HAHA As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure!

Trash? Yikes...I'm not getting anywhere near this storm a brewing. You'd better don your aluminum helmet, CJBS - psionic mind whip is a comin!

JHAP knows deep down inside I love the mighty GSF...