My future pond stocking strategy - 09/08/05 03:10 PM
Well, this is one of my first posts and just thought I would say hi. I have been reading this forum for the past 8 months and love every bit of it. I am going to be putting a subscription in for the magazine and if funds prevail (they are in short supply due to an upcoming wedding that I need to pay for), I will be ordering some back issues as well.
I do not have a pond yet (except the 175 gal. pond I am putting in for landscaping purposes). But I am just as excited as ever. A couple more years, I will be selling my house and moving to an acreage and plan on building my 2 acre pond. But since I am a planner and too damn excited about the future prospect. I can't sit on the sidelines, I already have put together lots of documentation on this stuff. To try to do it right the first time.
Anyways, here is what I would like to do. Just a heads up though, I am a expiremental type person, hate the "norm." So here is my plan, let me know your comments/suggestions:
Native Bluegill 1800 1st Year
Redear Sunfish 400 1st Year
Fathead Minnows 15 lbs. 1st Year
Golden Shiners 15 lbs. 1st Year
Crayfish 300 1st Year
Threadfin Shad 15 lbs. 1st Year
Blue Catfish 10 1st Year
Channel Catfish 25 1st Year
Tadpoles 200 2nd Year
Yellow Perch 325 2nd Year
LM Bass 35 2nd Year
SM Bass 200 2nd Year
Later on:
Gizzard Shad 20 lbs. 4th yr. maybe
HS Bass 100 P&T 4th yr.
Walleye 40 P&T 4th yr. maybe
Moz. Tilapia 15 lbs. start 3rd/4th yr.
Rainbow Trout 75 P&T 4th yr+
Brook Trout 25 P&T 4th yr+
Brown Trout 25 P&T 4th yr+
Tri. Grass Carp 4 start ???
As you can see I am aiming for a diverse fish environment. My goal is to have decent size catching fish and the chance for a trophy size game fish (chance is only a couple times a year). Not a big LMB/BG/Cat guy, but wanted just a few in there for diversity. My big fish that I want to see in the pond are yellow perch (I'm orig. from WI, love those YP fish frys too damn much), walleye (just another great tasty fish) and SMB (love the fight and the taste). So let me know what you would do in my shoes. Thanks in advance. Oh, plan on aerating with a windmill aerator (love Renewable Energy). And swimming/diving(air tank) in the pond occasionally.
I do not have a pond yet (except the 175 gal. pond I am putting in for landscaping purposes). But I am just as excited as ever. A couple more years, I will be selling my house and moving to an acreage and plan on building my 2 acre pond. But since I am a planner and too damn excited about the future prospect. I can't sit on the sidelines, I already have put together lots of documentation on this stuff. To try to do it right the first time.
Anyways, here is what I would like to do. Just a heads up though, I am a expiremental type person, hate the "norm." So here is my plan, let me know your comments/suggestions:
Native Bluegill 1800 1st Year
Redear Sunfish 400 1st Year
Fathead Minnows 15 lbs. 1st Year
Golden Shiners 15 lbs. 1st Year
Crayfish 300 1st Year
Threadfin Shad 15 lbs. 1st Year
Blue Catfish 10 1st Year
Channel Catfish 25 1st Year
Tadpoles 200 2nd Year
Yellow Perch 325 2nd Year
LM Bass 35 2nd Year
SM Bass 200 2nd Year
Later on:
Gizzard Shad 20 lbs. 4th yr. maybe
HS Bass 100 P&T 4th yr.
Walleye 40 P&T 4th yr. maybe
Moz. Tilapia 15 lbs. start 3rd/4th yr.
Rainbow Trout 75 P&T 4th yr+
Brook Trout 25 P&T 4th yr+
Brown Trout 25 P&T 4th yr+
Tri. Grass Carp 4 start ???
As you can see I am aiming for a diverse fish environment. My goal is to have decent size catching fish and the chance for a trophy size game fish (chance is only a couple times a year). Not a big LMB/BG/Cat guy, but wanted just a few in there for diversity. My big fish that I want to see in the pond are yellow perch (I'm orig. from WI, love those YP fish frys too damn much), walleye (just another great tasty fish) and SMB (love the fight and the taste). So let me know what you would do in my shoes. Thanks in advance. Oh, plan on aerating with a windmill aerator (love Renewable Energy). And swimming/diving(air tank) in the pond occasionally.