Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose LMB

Well its time to put in the rest of my fish. I already put 90 CNBG, 30 RE, 25 CC back in Jan. I want large CNBG and I like LMB. I know its possible to have LMB in my small of a pond as long as I stay on top of it. I just wonder how hard it will be.

IMHO, if you like to fish, you're up to it.

lots of past post about the "catchability" issue with LMB. I'm at about the same point with my pond, but I'm wondering if HSB might not be a better option, if you worry at all about catchability.

good luck

Either LMB or HSB will work with some effort. First learn as much as possible about each one and how they would work in your pond. You can even mix them to start (some of both ) to add some spice to the mix. With either much of the catchability problem can be managed by using live bait to remove some as needed.

I think I will try the LMB. I have friends who like to fish for LMB and so do my step-son and myself, so I don't think they will be an issue. In order to have large CNBG's don't I want to have stunted LMBs? And when people say "stunted" how small will they be?

Figure LMB like to eat BG (even CNBG ) about 1/3 their length. In my pond, I decided I wanted crowded LMB in the 12"-15" range to reduce the numbers of BG from roughly 4"-5", so the survivors in this size jump up into the eating bracket of over 6". After that, it's my job to thin the BG from 6"-8" (which helps thicken my waste), letting these larger survivors jump into the over 8" range (in theory - it's a work in progress).

okiefish16,

I'd like to offer you a comment or two from my own experience....one of the most exciting, fun ponds I've ever had was a little 1/4 acre pond stocked many years previous by a farmer with native BG and LMB. The farmer and no one else ever fished the pond hence it became, after many years, a stable balanced pond loaded with small LMB and native BG. When I first bought the place and fished the pond, the LMB were an absolute hoot to catch. In that crowded condition, they would attack almost anything you could get to them on a fly rod. An absolute blast, jumping everywhere when hooked and eager to get another chance.....then I got "smart" and decided the pond needed some "management" to grow larger fish. Larger isn't always better.

There are a lot worse things that can happen to your pond than being crowded with LMB. That's my comment.

Theo how do I keep the LMB in that range 12"-15"? And How long before they start over crowding?

I tell myself I need to remove the ones 16" and up - but it's difficult to bring myself to that. Maybe I can exercise them to death (given morts with catch and release, a definite possibility).

I would overstock LMB from the beginning - perhaps 50 for your quarter acre. Once they start spawning, you should be in overcrowded bass city.

Thanks Meadowlark. I think LMB will be the way to go.

Theo, what size would you start out with? 4"-6"?

If your CNBG are big enough to spawn all Summer long, I think that'd work. I wouldn't want to go any bigger unless I waited until Fall.

I haven't seen "hide nor hair" of my CNBG, so I don't know how big they are.......

Remind me how big they were when stocked in January.

CNBG and RES were 2"s

This one is easy and ML gave you the prescription. Most ponds in the south will do that when stocked with BG/RES and LMB on their own (no management). Put in some CNBG/BG a few RES and some LMB. The rest will take care of itself. The LMB will have reduced growth (a couple will get big but most will be 10 in.). Just release the LMB for the first 2 years. Start with 150% of the recommended # of LMB this summer (40 to 50 @ 3-4in). Get LMB who are not feed trained. Also throw in about 15 adult 4-6in CNBG along with the other half of the original fish in April . A few FH or gams would help say 1 lb. Add some supplemental feeding to grow the CNBG (gradually increase the pellet size so that only the biggest BG can eat them ). I bet that will lead to a bass crowded pond with big CNBG in 3 years.

I've got to admit , that pond sounds like it would be more fun than a female only LMB , or HSB pond, as far as catchability goes. I'm definitely going to think about going that direction also.

Hi everyone I've been off here for a long while. So, a little update on my pond.

The pond is 1 1/2 years old.

I don't see any of the CC, but I did catch one last fall.

The CNBG are eating and growing like crazy. They are also spawning like crazy. They spawned all summer last year and I already have at least one spawn this year. Those little 1" to 2" boogers are all over the place.

I never did get an LMB in the pond. I'm going to do that this weekend. Will a 3"-4" be able to eat the 1"-2" CNBG?

1" and down, I would say. Those new LMB are gonna hammer this year's CNBG spawn, for starters, and probably move right up inyo eating last year's YOY as they grow.

I agree those LMB will eat 1in and this years yoy BG.

My guess is the 2-4in LMB stocked now will never be able to eat many if any of last years yoy CNBG. The CNBG will get to 8in before the LMB can eat them. They will then not be subject to predation by the LMB until the LMB are about 5yrs old and 20+in. There won't be many LMB that will get that big. That is why that stocking program works. The original BG and the first year yoy if you wait until yr 2 to stock LMB will always be there to spawn forage for each successive years LMB spawn. This assumes there is enough food for CNBG growth.

If Okie16 was up north with slower growth rates then the LMB might prey on yr 2 yoy BG in his situation.

ewest, I feed the CNBG. Are you saying I should wait til next spring to put in the LMB? Or maybe this fall?

What was stocked (and size) and when ? I was not saying wait. I thought you were indicating that you had 3 year classes of CNBG now - original stockers , last summers spawn/07 yoy and this years first spawn/08 yoy. Is that correct?

I put 2" CNBG in Jan. 07 they spawned summer of 07 and this years first spawn. The original stockers have been in the pond for 1 year and 4 months. Thats what through me.

I put 2" RES at the same time as the CNBG. I haven't seen any of them.

With 3 year classes of CNBG you should go ahead and add small 2-4in LMB - it is time. The RES are there - watch for them during spawning time - see pic

ok, thank you. So, about 40 2"-4" LMB's in order to over stock and eventualy get Large CNBG?