Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Am I on the right track for my 2.5 year old pond

Hello everyone, my first post. Subscribed today. Anyways, I have built a new pond and have stocked it accordingly to size. The first season I stocked with 100 channels and 200 bluegill. The next season, I put 50 (Florida/Northern Largemouth) and 5 lbs of fathead minnows. I have been feeding on warm days, and it's a frenzy. The bluegill look very healty, about as big as my hand, the channels are beutiful, at least 12 thick inches and the bass don't seem to come up much, which is pretty typical, I think. What's next? I haven't fished it yet, being really patient. I've been catching quality fish down the street and know the dangers of transfering but these bass are quality. If I were to transfer right now, what's the biggest size and can I ever transfer a lunker? I probably need to put some more fatheads in and a grass carp. FYI, the bass are in their beds hot and heavy here near Tulsa. P.S. How do I post pics of my pond??

Welcome to the forum, Bootlegger.

How big is your pond? What are your goals? Big bass, big gills, balanced mix?

Some items to consider:

Some prudently restrained catch and release would allow you to more closely assess the size, condition, and remaining number of your BG and LMB stockers. (I think I managed to hold off maybe 2 whole months after stocking BG before I was fishing for them.) The state of your existing predator and forage populations are important inputs as to whether additional predators would be desirable, okay, or a big no-no.

You must have forage big enough for the predators in the pond to eat and thrive on, or they will do poorly. Also, you don't want to stock predators that will be big enough to eat your initial BG stockers. SO, have your BG spawned already (like, did they spawn last year - spawning this year should be a given for hand-sized BG) and if so, how big are the offspring? That will determine whether there would be suitable forage for any (additional) bass.

Also, note that transferred adult bass do not necessarily prosper, even if introduced into ponds with forage of proper size and number. Some never make the adjustment to finding food in a new environment and lose weight. Some will adapt just fine, and thrive. Some will break even and stay about the same.

Welcome. Its good to see another Okie. My lake is up by Claremore.

Welcome to PB. We are going to need more info and goals to make a reasonable guess. Usual stocking rates using stocker size (2 inch) fish call for 10 to 1 BG to LMB while you have 4 to 1. That plus the secondary predator CC make me wonder if there is enough forage capacity even with feeding. With that in mind and the limited info I would not put any more LMB in the pond and especially not any bigger than the current size of your initial stocker sized LMB.