Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Redfish in Freshwater

I am sure this subject has been beat to death previously but I am

a "fingerling" so I do not know where to go to read or study

this. I have a 4000+ ppm TDS 4 acre pond 60 miles south of

Wichita Falls. I know there are sources for Redfish somewhere

and that maybe there are methods to keep the water warm enough

in winter to avoid a kill. I would appreciate a lead.

See these from SRAC

http://srac.tamu.edu/index.cfm?catid=13

Water quality

Selection of a site for red drum

production must be based on the

knowledge that adults can survive in

either freshwater or saltwater. The

larvae require salinities of 25 to 35

ppt for at least their first 30 days. In

addition, red drum require water

with a calcium content greater than

100 ppm and a chloride content

greater than 150 ppm for good survival.

For optimum growth the calcium

content should be more than

150 ppm and the chloride content

greater than 1,000 ppm.



Temperature

Red drum cannot tolerate extended

periods of time when water temperatures

temperatures

are below 40°F. Selection of a

site must consider the normal minimum

(not average) low temperature

in an area. Heated water can be

used but it is not readily available in

most areas. Red drum will tolerate

low salinity water, but survival is

reduced in water below 50°F and

lower than 5 ppt salinity. Air

temperature directly affects water

temperature; therefore, if yearround

water temperature data are

not available, check the air temperature

data from the closest reporting

station. If available use the frequency

and duration of freezing temperatures

rather than average daily

temperatures. A few consecutive

days of freezing temperatures can

destroy an entire crop of red drum

in unheated outdoor raceways or ponds.

Thanks that's what I needed - KCH

Yeah, I think you will find that they are only stocked in Power Plant lakes like Fairfield.

ewest Thanks for the info. I fit all of the criteria(relative to my water analysis) but then

again winter kill could happen. Crazy question but have you seen

any of these aquiculture outfits tackle the problem such as a

circulating pump which would keep the temperature 5 - 10 degrees

higher during cold spells. Even if you warmed part of a 4 acre

pond the Redfish would seek out that area and I assume survive

the cold spell. Thanks again.

I have wondered whether a geothermal circulation system could keep all or part of a pond in the 50 degree range. Since here in Oklahoma deep ground temperature is 55 it seems feasible. Since there is no lifting of the water but just a circular circulation it looks like energy costs could be pretty low. I know that it requires much more heat to raise the temperature of water than it does for air so that the amount of unerground run for heat exchange would have to be longer than for the home heat exchange systems. Maybe someone with some engineering savvy in this area will weigh in on this subject.

Layton what you are saying makes very good sense. We have saltwater(salinities less than seawater) at a depth of 200 feet with tempuratures of 50+ F so if one was to drill a well next to the pond and circulate this water during the winter it should keep these fish in good shape.
A redfish puts a bass to shame relative to fighting ability.Thanks for the idea - KCH

When you grow some of these in your pond, give me a call and I will come down to take a few pictures.

This is the first year I have missed my families annual redfishing trip! My dad has been catching reds off the beach every morning and evening for the last week!

Wow, A Triple Condello Pose!!! Outstanding!

Those a some good sized fish!

OK SO MAYBE i'LL NEED A BIGGER POND FOR THOSE GUYS - KCH

How about is this what your more after?