Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Most Prolific?

What is the most prolific minnow type forage fish, such as shiners, fatheads etc.?

If prolific forage relative to ponds is the criteria I would say FH hands down.

For sure. I moved several dozen to my .62 acre pond last spring from a holding pond and by some point in the summer had 10's of thousands of them.

Cecil:

In that pond that the FH were moved to, what is in there for spawning structure?

Scott,

Some rip rap on the east end but mostly I believe they are spawning in the macrophytes as in Chara and Sago Pondweed. That is unless they spawn under the pier that goes completely across the pond. Maybe the bottom of the cages too?

I was wondering because there isn't much if any spawning structure in the neighbors' pond, and I can use it for a forage pond. It'll be interesting this year to see just how well it works without much structure.

The most common species of fish in North American freshwater is the bluntnose minnow the close cousin to the fathead minnow.

CJ,

What can you tell us about the bluntnose minnow? Is it as slow moving as the fathead minnow? I assume it's just as prolific if it's the most common minnow.

Here's my thread on the comparison of the two. I never did put FHM into the pond but may this spring. But I think I may do without the FHM and see how it plays out.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...true#Post182172

Thanks for the link although i was disappointed the pictures were no longer there.

Any ice left on the ponds in your area? I wouldn't mind if my ice left at least temporarily on my biggest pond to give it a breather. Lots of Sago Pond weed going into winter has me nervous. I removed it once with a weed cutter but didn't have the energy and time the second time.

It has melted substantially, at one point it was 4". Now about 1/3 of the pond is melted. With the 1.5" of rain they're calling for today it may well melt a bunch more. But I hear cold weather is supposed to be in the extended forecast.