I've got about a 3 acre tank out at my ranch that is already stocked with catfish, but I am wanting to build up the forage fish population before I add bass. How many lbs per acre of what species would ya'll recomend?
Thanks in advance for any input!
The "normal" recommended stocking rate is 1,000 bluegill and redears per acre with 80% bluegill. Also, add about 5 lbs. of fathead minnows per acre. This is for a new water hole. I'll assume that some forage already exists since you say you want to "build up" the forage base. A lot
depends on the status of that existing base. You haven't said what else may be in the water or the history/age/water quality/depth of the tank.
I'm assuming a lot here but, since this is your best shot before adding bass to an existing population of catfish and other available forage, I would probably use those numbers. Small stocker fish are inexpensive.
Did you clone yourself Dave?
Ross, I have a computer at work and the one here at home. The changes to PB forced me to Login but when I tried, it said that Login ID was already taken. So, I added 1 to the end for the one at home.
Which one of you is the evil twin with the moustache?
Dave,
The tank was originally stocked in 1976 with CC and minnows (not sure what species), I have seen some Blue Gill in there. That is all the history of the tank that I know of because my family bought the land about 4 years ago. The tank is spring fed, but it is shallow with 8' being the deepest that I know of. There are no bass that I know of in the tank.
Last year we had the tank flood over into a natural spillway (which we have since blocked off), and lost probably 80% of the forage fish in the tank so I'm just trying to get the forage population back up to where it was before I advance in stocking Largemouth.
Chad, you may not have lost as many forage fish as you think. They usually go upstream in a flood or overflow. That said, I would go ahead and load up with bluegills and fatheads. Once bass get started, it's tough to add forage without losing a whole bunch of them to predation. At 2 to 3 inches long and a cost of 25 to 35 cents each for bluegill, they can be pretty cheap insurance. Fatheads are generally about 7 or 8 bucks per pound. They usually run about 350 fish per pound. Both species are extremely prolific. Expect to lose some of each to cats.
Theo, you must mean brother Fu.