Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Smallmouth Bass and Perch

I know this was discussed quite a while back. I have just built a second pond that is 1.5 to 2 acres in Iowa. I would like to stock it with perch and smallmouth bass. What are your opinions on this combination? How many of each should I stock? What bait fish(minnows,crawfish) should I stock? Should I stock the bait fish this fall and wait to stock the bass and perch next spring? Should I stock some catfish for cleaning the bottom or not? Any help or other ideas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Kenny

You are looking to stock what I have in my small pond. I have YP, SMB FH minnows and crayfish.

I will let the experts tell you the stocking numbers, but I started my pond with the FH minnows and crayfish and allowed nearly a year to have them establish. After that I put the YP in next and gave them about 6 months and then I put in the SMB. Life has been in ballance and I had a hard time waiting to let the eco system build up on its own, but now I have a pond that is nicely in balance. I havent had to re-stock the FH minnows or crayfish. They are holding their own against the YP and SMB. My YP are in the 8 - 11 inch range now and the SMB are coming along.

Thus my best advice is take your time and let the system build up and give time for all the forage fish to establish and then start adding on after that. As for the Catfish, I personally wouldn't add them due to the stirring up of the pond that I have heard they can produce. I think that for cleaning the bottom I would rather have a good areation system and let the bugs and crayfish do thier work to keep it clean than have the Cats in there to muck things up. I have also heard that, depending on what cat your talking about, the cats soon become top predator and you may lose some of your primary fish.

Good luck and have fun building up the system!