Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations The pond that fixed itself!

Its been about a year or longer since my last posting however, im compelled to write about this and interested in any feedback!
A little over two years ago i started stocking an established pond in a remote area of northern New Hampshire (close to Littleton). The pond (4.5 acres) was a beaver pond located on 100 acres that i purchased 10 years ago. Its deepest areas are 11 feet which comprised apox 10%, 6'-20%, 4'-30%,3'-30% and then some shallow areas. The bottom of the pond is interesting in that, what initally looks like sink to your waste muck, was and is actually hard fine gravel and small stones with a 2" layer of silt mud on top. There is also a few large 3' diameter rocks scattered here and there, but not in great numbers.
The temperature of the water is cool but not cold enough for trout,(found that out after a stocking of 100 6" rainbows 7 years ago failed to produce anything). The warmest temperature in August ....80 degrees however drops to 70 by morning. The pond is feed by surrounding springs (about 4 that pump in a whopping 50 gal a min. And a small brook that is dry 3 months of the year but otherwise adds another 75 gals a min.
After the trout experiment failed, i waited a few years to make sure there were no fish in the pond. At this time the pond life consisted of, many red spotted newts,frogs, waterbugs, a few painted turtles, very very sparse crayfish population,leeches,and of course the beaver.
At this point i decided to stock 140 4" redbreasted sunfish. I waited 6 months then dumped in 10- 10" smallmouth bass, 15- 15" smallmouth bass and 1 4.5lb smallmouth bass. Along with the smallies i stocked 10-9" largemouths. The redbreasted sunfish that i had stocked the previous summer, much to my amazement,had multiplied 10 fold and all the new fry had already grown to 3". It sounds unbelievable but true.
Last year at this time everything seemed to turn around for the worse. The bass were nowhere to be found,which was expected since i only put in a small amount, however i could not catch or even spot a single fish. The red bellies all looked skinny and slighty stunted. They were not really bigger then the previous year. I checked for crayfish and found none. red spotted newts were everywhere. I was to say the least extremely dissapointed, and left thinking i was going to be stuck with a pond full of small skinny, stunted redbreasted sunfish, and no bass!
This year i was once again fooled but this time for the better! The sunfish are back, however in far greater numbers. They all look healthy and fat!Overall they have grown 1.5" from last year! Along with the sunfish i caught a few 5" smallmouth bass. A succesful spawn ! How many smallies do i have in the pond ? I dont know at this time. Time will tell! Crayfish are everywhere and in great numbers! Dont know how or why.
Largemouth bass seen---0, caught-----0. Who would have figured! Gotta love it!
Bill

MntLobster,

Yes I remember you telling us about your pond. However are you sure your redbreasted sunfish are not actually pumpkinseeds? I though the redbreasts were farther down the coat.

I have about 120 brooks now that average nearly 4 lbs. I will take about about half in a month and add 50 rainbows and 5o browns.

Glad to hear your pond is working out. I hope no one is coming in on you and taking out your bass.

Hey Cecil! yes 100% sure they are redbreasted sunfish! Wow !you get some big fish with your ponds!! good to hear from you again!
Bill

Does anyone have a picture of a readbreasted sunfish they can upload.

thanks

I took my Grandson and a friend fishing today. It was a community lake where they live. I started catching those darn things. It took me a while to figure them out. I wonder where around fort Worth they got the fingerlings.

One from the creek behind our hunting cabin in PA.

CJ, Omaha, & Dave, Mr.Hello,

Why did it take you so long to reply?

Five years!

First time I saw the thread... As far as you long timers on here, what's your excuse? HAHA

Cecil, I type real slow.

Haha, I didn't even notice the post date! Mr Hello bumped it and I assumed it was new.

I am new to this and just ran across the thread. That is funny. I guess it is up to date now.

HA!!