Hello,
I have a pond that is a little less than 1/4 of an acre. It was built about May of 2015 and stocked in Oct of 2015. It is mainly a swimming pond and we do not fish out of it. Starting this summer we started getting nipped by fish whenever we swim in it. Not just once and done, multiple times over and over when you are in the water. Also, they bump the underside of rafts. I was looking for solutions to getting them to stop nipping. I have read that adding more feeder fish will do this. I have listed the types of fish we stocked the pond with below. I know other species can make they way into the pond through nature's ways. BUt mainly I would just like some input on if adding some minnows may get the nipping to stop. If so, given the original numbers and pond size, how many minnow should I add? If i am leaving any pertinent info out please let me know. Thank you!

25 Large Mouth Bass
25 Channel Car
approx 70? Red Ear Sunfish
10 lb Fathead minnows

Interesting question. I would fish it to see what fish is nipping. Considering stocking rates your LMB could have overpopulated and stunted but 2 years doesn't seem like long enough for that. IMO don't waste your money on minnows which at best will be a temporary fix. Until you find out what the fish are I can't help anymore than that.

Usually it is the sunfish that are the nibblers, but at the rate you stocked, I'm surprised they populated enough to be an issue.

Any chance your RES weren't really RES? What about contamination from another bow?

Well we got a stocking package from a fishery. The package originally had Bluegill and Hybrid Bluegill. We asked for them to leave the BG out bc we heard they were notorious nibblers. I suppose they could have misunderstood and included the HBG still?

If the nibblers are the RES is there a different fix for if the nibblers are some BG or HBG that got mixed in?

RES aren't usually known for nibbling. In my opinion there is another culprit, possibly the HBG, or some accidental BG. If they are HBG, then keeping cover and vegetation to the absolute minimum in order to allow extreme predation on the hybrids and offspring would be my advice.

Same thing if they're BG, but it might be a lot harder to get them under control. I suppose you could kill off the pond and start again.

I would be interested in seeing a photo of the biters... and, it would help eliminate the offending fish...start fishing!

If you have nibbling fish then it should be very easy to catch some of them, get some close-up, clear pictures and we will identify them even if they are less than 4"-5" long. Try using a small hook, with small pieces of worm(WalMart) as bait. Just dangle baited hook near the nibbling fish and catching some of them should be pretty easy.

Well fishing went well, although the results were somewhat suprising. So,on Tuesday at about 1030PM I went out and within 5 mintues caught about an 8 inch long catfish. Short on time that night so just went out today at about 630PM and caught another catfish (pictured) and then 2 of the next fish in the pics. As far as who is doing the nibbling, no idea? Used a small hook with bobber and the line maybe 7 inches in the water. Thanks for any additonal info and suggestions!

[img:left]https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipO3tfzvwunsXSWayFDCXD4PeTYsR2wtxvkaZ9p3[/img]

[img:left]https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipMCpiyAZrgMZxpf9vvmZSM6sZvHn7SXEGmXadmV[/img]


img:left]https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipMCpiyAZrgMZxpf9vvmZSM6sZvHn7SXEGmXadmV[/img]

I can't view the pictures, Google wants me to sign into an account.

I can't see them either...

Ah, how about now?

Looks like Channel Catfish, Hybrid Bluegill, Hybrid Bluegill to me.

Thank you esshup. Anyone else have opinions as to what it is and how to stop the nibbling? Thank you!

I always "over" feed right before we go swimming and never have any nibbling from the BG. My wife, Jodi, refuses to enter the pond unless I've fed.

So when you say 'over' feed. Do you mean you just toss in a bunch of minnows? What would be a good amount to over feed with?

He(likely) means to feed a lot of pellets before swimming. Game fish pellets are easy to find and not that expensive. Tractor supply usually has some.

yes, I mean Purina AM600 pellets meant for the BG. I haven't had any issue with LMB, HSB, or CC nipping us but I usually throw out a bunch of Purina AM LMB pellets as well before swimming