I've lived in my fairly new neighborhood for a little over 2 years now. Last year I found a 1/3 of an acre pond hidden in the back of the neighborhood. Its got a maximum depth of 6 feet and a very gently sloping shore. The pond was built as a storm water management pond when the neighborhood was first built in 2004. When I found the pond it had no fish in it of any kind. It seems to stay clear even after all but the heaviest of rains. There is no aquatic vegetation in the pond, YET. The shoreline is mostly surrounded by cattails and black willow, but I have kept a few pockets open to access to pond through.

Anyways, last year I stocked it with golden shiners, bluntnose minnows, banded killies, and gambusia. All have taken hold quite well and hopefully all will survive the winter and will be ready to spawn this spring.

I'm looking to add some kind of predatory fish community to the pond and am very open for ideas! Keep in mind, this isn't my personally owned pond, but is owned by my HOA. However, I think 90% of the neighborhood doesn't even know the thing exists and the 10% that do, couldn't care less if it did! So basically, its mine to toy with!

I will not be able to aerate it. I may have the ability to hand feed the fish but it most likely will not be a consistent thing so I would not add that into the equation. I will also most likely be stocking the pond using fish I catch, most likely using a seine but perhaps also with hook and line.

So, any ideas?

(Hey, I gotta get my pond fix somehow until I can build my own some day!)

Here's a satellite photo of the pond as well...

I'm partial to LMB, but since this is an experimental pond you could stock just about anything. I wonder how a Musky would do in there.

CJ, how about female only yellow perch, they can survive low oxygen in case of severe winter, and wouldn't multiply.

Question is when will Mudcat Joe show up?

You'll always know what he did as he'll be hiding behind a tree just giggling.

I'd go path of least resistance and put a bunch of bluegill in there and maybe in the fall throw a couple of LMB in there.

If you could find YP or SMB, I'd mix them in also.

Even throwing in feed by hand when you can will help the forage base.

Yeah, I pray no one decides to do their own stocking experiment in the pond, but since the pond is not mine, I have no real control over it. But since the pond was around for 3 years before I found it and no fish were it in then, I am thinking I've got good odds that no mudcats will magically appear... Unless those pesky birds plant them! HAHA

The pond bottom is a clay/mud with one section of medium sized rocks to prevent erosion where the storm water rushes in. The bluntnose minnows seem to love the rocks for nesting under. I did sneak a couple pallets into the pond as well for spawning structure as well.

In my past experience in ponds this small, it is VERY hard to get a good balance going between LMB and BG. It seems to be one extreme or the other. With the clay/mud bottom I doubt I could get any SMB reproduction in the pond. I just don't know, maybe I will put a bunch of male GSF in there and go for a VA State record GSF?

I was also thinking of SMB(no worry of natural reproduction), male BG, and RES. Would be interesting to see if the male BG would spawn with some of the female RES. Anyone with experience in their hybrid?

Any other ideas???

VA groups their state record sunfish??
http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/trophy/staterecords.asp

Love the SMB, male BG, and RES strategy..

Are you telling the HOA? Guessing a sign posted might attract attention? Maybe make a sign that says "Dangerous Mercury Poisoning, do not fish or handle fish"

I wouldn't rule out SMB reproduction just because there is no rock substrate.

It's what the prefer, but when it comes down to it, the 'needs' of the fish might just prevail.

From looking at their records page, it does appear to be that way doesn't it? I know I have looked at it before, but I guess I forgot! Looks like I am gonna have to grow one large GSF! HAHA

The HOA isn't getting told a thing! The more quiet I stay about this the better. Although a sign that says mercury poisoning, fish consumption illegal may turn some heads! HAHA However, they got signs all around the Potomac River watershed warning about fish consumption and it doesn't slow people from eating fish there.



Yeah, I am hoping to minimize any reproduction by any species but the forage fish I have in there except for the RES. In a pond that small, it will make management much easier. So the mud bottom should keep the SMB from spawning, but ya just never know!

Anyone know how to accurately sex YP?

As of right now, I am thinking SMB, RES, male BG, male GSF and female YP if I can sex them. With no reproduction of all but the RES, I should be able to manage the pond to produce some large size sunfish and a few trophy SMB.

How will you get trophy SMB?

Will there be enough for them to eat?

I just walked down to the pond today and it was teeming with GSH, bluntnose minnows, banded killies and mosquitofish that I could see... The water is VERY clear right now. I also stocked it with creekchub suckers, white suckers and tessellated darters last year with the other mentioned species. I just didn't see any of those three species today. I know all the species but the two sucker species spawned, so I think there will be plenty of food for the SMB to eat in the form of those forage fish I have in their now.

I think I will stock the sunfish this year and the SMB next year. As I remove the BG, GSF or SMB I will replace them.

The SMB will not have to rely on sunfish to feed themselves, only the forage fish. I feel with the substantial shallow water areas of the pond and cover, the SMB will not wipe the forage fish out but will still get plenty to eat. The few RES young that are born will provide additional food along with any hybrids between the RES, BG or GSF. I will keep the SMB to around 25 individuals. I'd probably stock around 50 RES, and 30 all male BG and 20 all male GSF. I will just have to be careful that I don't mix any female BG or GSF in or I will have a mess on my hands.

I know someone isn't gonna like the GSF idea, perhaps a fear they will compete with the SMB too much. The jury is still out on if I will include them in the mix...

I was just thinking that.

GSF make pretty poor competitors. With the exception of some who have kept other stocking numbers low, they seldom last. They are gone from my pond and I miss them. They are pretty and will outfight a BG everytime.

How about orange-spotted sunfish? Dr. Willis mentioned them for a smallie pond. or pumpkinseeds? You've got quite the mix of fish!

Thanks Eric, these are perfect smb food..

Orange spotted sunfish are pretty no doubt but full grown are only about 6" and I have no wild source to collect from around here... I may include a few male PSS into the mix as well. I figure as long as they are just males, I can darn near mix in as many sunfish species as I want without too crazy a repercussion... My experience with GSF is much the same. I had a pond that the only fish in it were GSF and redfin pickerel. I stocked CC, LMB and BG into it. Within 3 years, the pond went from millions of stunted 3-4 inch GSF to almost no GSF. Every once in a while you'd catch a real nice GSF but they got real rare. I think me stocking adult male GSF, I could keep them around. With no reproduction from any game fish but the RES I don't think they'll be out competed.

The benefit of the OSS was the small size, good size for forage for smallies and won't mess with your other forage. I can't believe you can't find them wild! You're the wild collecting specialist!

If you're going to have mixed sex RES with male BG and male GSF you're probably going to get some hybrids.

OSS aren't native to eastern drainages and they apparently never sparked the USFWS to stock them back in the late 1800's when they seemed to stock everything else.

I am guessing you are right about the hybridization. That is the only real monkey wrench...