Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Getting ready to stock bass

Hi guys. I know it's been a while since I've posted. I want to thank everyone for all their input over the past 2 years. The pond is coming along well. It still hasn't filled up yet. That's why I haven't posted any new pics. I also have a lot of other projects going on at my land. I'll post some pics of some neat ones soon.
My question about stocking the bass: Would there be any advantage to stocking 125 F1 bass in a 2.5 acre pond as opposed to 100 northerns and 50 Floridas? My fish guy in Lonoke says he would stock either a mix of Florida/Northern or all F1s. I won't be stocking until May 1st.

Did you end up doing the October stocking from your old post:

"October 2008: 2000 BG, 600 RES, 30 lbs. FHM, ? GAMS
May 2009: 100 LMB, 50 FSB, 50 F1, 50 CC
October 2010: golden shiners
2012: introduce threadfin and gizzard shad, black crappie"

The advantage of the pure 100 northerns and 50 floridas is that you'd a) have pure strains of each, b) they'd cross and you'd have natural F1's, and c) you'd probably have pure of both strains for a long time. A good amount of diversity, catch-ability, and potential. With 150 F1's you'll never get a 'pure' Florida. I'd go the mixed route.

BTW - how are the BG doing? I'd not be afraid to do the golden shiners now rather than fall, same with TS.

Yes, I stocked in October. Everything but the GAMS. I believe the fish are doing fine. I see some every now and then. I know the FHM spawned at least once in the fall because I saw thousands of tiny fry in the pond.
I thought the point of stocking Floridas and Northerns is to get the F1s. Aren't they the ones that have big growth potential and are aggressive? Pure Floridas aren't as aggressive as Northerns. What if I stocked 75 Northerns, 25 Floridas and 25 F1s? Then you get a good mix of everything and every possible genetic combination.

You are in the heart of fish producing country btw. It is difficult for us to get all three at same time for our clients. Ideally if you can do it I would get the mix. As Aaron stated you would have "pure" so you would have ultra agressive (northern)and the top end potential of having a pure Florida. Mixing in some F1's would be fine so not sure why hatchery is againist that. Of course you would not get a true Fl if an F1 crossed with either pure. BUT you could still have some pure F1's second year if FLA and Norhtern crossed in the pond and that potential is there if you stocked a few F1's.

We managed ok last year Greg. It just took pre planning. CMF we used 200 North , 100 Fla and 100 F-1s last year. In a few years we will shock up a bunch of 10-12 in LMB and get them tested to check the genetic %s.

Yes it can be done but no sure unless located in area like CMF or you have patience like ewest. I will give you an update in ealry June we will attempt to do all three sub species in a few ponds.

Thanks guys for the info. I don't see what it would hurt to have a few F1s in the mix. When you have all three I would think you would get the best of both worlds. Agressive/catchable bass with the Northerns, monstrous genetics with the Floridas, and aggressive/catchable future monsters with the F1s. It seems that the Florida genetics, given a long enough timeline, would fade out anyway where I'm located because long winters would take their toll on the Floridas.

I finally was able to stock the bass. It took a while for the supplier to get them to the proper size. I ended up stocking 75 F1s and 75 pure northerns. The supplier didn't have a good pure Florida spawn this year. Oh well, I guess I can add those later. I also stocked 50 channel cats. This first picture is a channel cat. The second is the cats swimming away.



The next picture is the northern strain bass.


Then finally the F1s.


We've been swimming a lot in the pond and the bream are fearless without predators in the pond. They are spawning right now. They will actually bite you pretty good. That's all changed now. In about 6 months they'll be swimming for their life. Next year we should have no problems swimming in peace.

Trust me Chad, the BG will alwys bite a swimmer!

Some of them really hurt. Even after drinking several beers. They're like little piranha. Thank god they don't have big teeth!

Moles can be removed!

Fingerling LMB will bite as well. I found this out last year while floating around the pond. Apparently not only do I have good taste, I also taste good.

That's a good quote. I'll have to remember that one!