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Joined: Apr 2002
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I recently read an Article on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website extolling the virtues of tilapia as a forage fish in bass and catfish ponds. The article stated that tilapia were much better than bluegill for forage. Recognizing that they will die in the winter in North Central Texas, I'm considering getting some breeding size ones (10 to 20) and putting them to take some pressure off the bluegills and fatheads. At this time, I have no shortage of either bluegills of all sizes and fatheads in my one+ acre pond that I stocked a year ago. Has anyone tried this? Any thoughts?
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Joined: May 2002
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Dave, Could you provide a link to that article? I would be very interested to read it. My understanding on tilapia is that they provide forage, but at a cost. They interfere with other species' spawning and the large ones provide no benefit at all. In power plant lakes this can be a problem. In your situation, I don't know that they would provide anything that your bluegill aren't already taking care of. I don't know how big your lake is, but have you considered trying to introduce threadfin shad instead? Does anyone have any practical experience with stocking tilapia in small lakes where they can't overwinter? Dave raises an interesting question.
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Fishman, I was incorrect about the article being on the TPWD website. It is on the Texas A & M website. Go to http://wildthings.tamu.edu/publications/pondmgt.shtml. Under the Species category, see the article titled "Trophy Bass Production in East Texas Ponds and Small Lakes". My interest is due to my experience with another pond that I have. It is only about 1/3 acre. When I stocked it years ago, I was ignorant of correct stocking and management. However, everything spawned beautifully and I fed when I could. I was loaded with baby bluegills for forage. Within 3 years I was catching 2 1/2 pound bass. Then, more small bass showed up. I could usually catch one. Then, the rest wouldn't bite. Before long, no bluegill and no bass. From what I read, I didn't manage it properly in any way. Thats 20/20 hindsight. The new pond is a little over one acre and a little over one year old. Since I don't live on the land, I can't intensly manage it and am trying to put off the day when It becomes bass heavy.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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The tilapia is a relative newcomer to fishing ponds. It's a tropical species that checks out when water temperatures get into the low-50s, if memory serves.
The tilapia has spawned relentlessly in "thermally enriched" lakes where a lakeside power plant discharges hot water into a discharge area. Lake Fairfield in Central Texas comes to mind.
It's no small coincidence that, in these same lakes, the growth-rates on largemouth tend to be quite good for while. That's initially.
Fisheries biologists are concerned about the tilapia edging native species out of their biological niche, causing bass growth-rates to decline, long-term.
Most biologists stick with bluegill for the forage base, complemented with golden shiners, redear sunfish, crayfish, threadfin shad and other native creatures.
Tilapia have, however, been rather successful in some ponds and lakes in Dixie.
Mark McDonald Editor, Pond Boss
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Editor, Pond Boss Magazine Lunker
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Ah, tilapia. I'm lukewarm about this tropical creature. Here's why. Fact, tilapia die in cool water. Depending on species, tilapia die from 52 to 42 degrees F. Diversifying your food chain with tilapia can be good, as long as you keep several thoughts in mind. First, they will take pressure off overcrowded bass ponds by adding to the food chain and giving bluegill a temporary respite. But, when tilapia take off pressure by adding food, guess what bass do? They grow. So, your standing crop of bass increases on an already bass crowded population. Then, tilapia die each fall, and your bass are larger, with even less to eat. So, adding tilapia doesn't take away the need for slot limits, feeding and fertilizing. As a matter of fact, tilipia grow more bass, then die. So, the pressure shifts back to bass. And when pressure is on bass, pressure is on you. So, tilapia lead back to harvest. Tilapia are a tool, used in conjunction with all those other tools.
Teach a man to grow fish... He can teach to catch fish...
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