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#274979 12/05/11 08:54 AM
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While the lake was low this summer, I had a small pond added to the top end of my lake. This pond is going to used for raising CNB for forage for the big lake.

So here's my questions. One, the water is obviously muddy from the runoff, and is void of any structure/grass/etc. Should I wait til Spring to stock it, hoping the water settles, and the temp is warm enough to feed the CNB?

Also, should I add any minnows or structure, just to keep a "mini food chain" going? I will fertilize the pond and move a feeder to it, and am not sure if there's an advantage to having just a grow and net pond, or creating a mini lake with grass and minnows.

I do have room for spawning pallets for the minnows, and had a bank sloped for CNB spawning.

Any other thoughts are appreciated.




AL

FireIsHot #275008 12/05/11 12:10 PM
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CNBG/BG are more predatory than you think. I think it'd help the YOY CNBG population if there were FHM in there too. It'd take some predatory pressure off of the YOY. But, if you were to seine, then to help it go quicker, you'd have to use a seine with larger openings.

It all depends on what size CNBG you intend to remove from that pond to use as stockers.

Any cover in the pond will pose a seining problem, even submerged vegetation or FA.


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esshup #275082 12/06/11 07:06 AM
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That's kind off what I thought too. I'll wait til Spring,then stock. I had the banks done step enough that the usual Primrose problem here shouldn't hamper the seining.

I'm planning on pulling 3-5' BG, so we'll see how it goes by fall.

The really nice part about having it back up to the big lake is water level. I'll be able to manually adjust the water level as needed.

Thanks


AL

FireIsHot #275095 12/06/11 11:05 AM
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With that sized BG, you can use a seine with a larger mesh size so the FHM can swim thru. The downside to that is that the net might act as a gill net when some of the smaller BG want to escape and try to swim thru the net.

I had that problem with the small GSF when using the Fyke Net.


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esshup #275110 12/06/11 03:51 PM
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Thanks


AL

FireIsHot #279919 02/05/12 10:19 AM
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OK, reviving this post, but here's where I'm at.





All my rye took, and the approximately .20 acre pond is full and the silt is settling.

So several questions. And, at Lake Fork area of TX.

1) Am I ready for fathead minnows and CNB, or should I wait til Spring, when I start feeding again?

2) I have access to unlimited crayfish from an established private managed lake close to mine. Would these hurt the purpose of the pond for raising CNB as forage for my big lake?

I know I may be trying to much with a pond this size, but are there any potential downsides to having them in the CNB pond?

I'm jonesing for a trip to Overton's, but should I wait, or go ahead with the stocking?


AL

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Time to call Todd to line things up. Best time is in about 3 weeks if you are using 2 inch CNBG. Sooner than that if using adult CNBG.

A few craws won't hurt the fish but be sure they will not cause leaks in the pond.

Last edited by ewest; 02/06/12 10:30 AM.















ewest #279994 02/06/12 06:52 AM
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Perfect. I'll get it all started.

Leaks are a non issue for me. I'm blessed with red clay that has held up like concrete for years.

And as a side note. My dirt guy and I spent as much time this Fall discussing the location of my clay that was removed during reconstruction as we did the actual lake work. We finally have had about 8" of rain in the last month, and my lake has risen almost 3 feet.

The thing I noticed was the way he packed and contoured the dirt so runoff wouldn't affect it. I never imagined that the grades and location of all the extra clay was so important. I literally had no clay leach back into the lake. Nor did I have any major ruts from all the rain.

This whole project turned out great.


AL

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It sounds like you have an excellent dirt guy!


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
esshup #284270 03/15/12 07:53 PM
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Today was the day everything came together. I ran to Tyler Fish Farm, and picked up my CNB. Bob only does Thursday/Friday's at the shed, and he said he had 40 to 50 loads today. Spring apparently has sprung.



I ordered a Texas Hunter fish feeder, and got it set up in around 20 minutes. Time will tell if it's as good as everyone says, but based on initial impressions, it's by far the best feeder I've ever purchased. Very easy to set up, and it slings a mile. The wind up of the blower seemed strange at first, but it easy slung Aquamax 500 40 feet, with no food on the bank. It's approximately 5' to the water, and the bank was clean. After the blower wound down, there was absolutely no food left in the bottom of the feeder. I will say this, the output is probably double my other feeders, so be sure and start slow and work your way up.



My whole little project turned out well, from the dirt work, to the rye, to the fish and feeder. Now, all I have left is to pick up my crayfish, and wait on the results.



Hopefully this fall, the CNB will be big enough to survive, and I can just dump them over the dam into the big lake.


AL

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Great looking place! That rye is growing! did you fertilize? I'm putting a little down this weekend (fertilizer) to help mine along.


It's true hard work never killed anybody, but I figure, why take the chance?
Ronald Reagan
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The good Brian



Cisco #284284 03/15/12 08:37 PM
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No fertilizer. I did use erosion mats though. I got the 6 month mats that should just dissolve by the end of Spring. They kept the seeds from floating away, and the clay from eroding, during all the rain we've had here is North TX.

Last edited by FireIsHot; 03/15/12 08:37 PM.

AL

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Looks great... Congrats!

CJBS2003 #284306 03/15/12 11:25 PM
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25 seconds per day with AM600 in the TH feeder is the same feeding rate (or nearly the same feeding rate) as 12 seconds per day with a Stren AquaPro (ADF75) and there is food left in the blower portion of the Stren.


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esshup #284312 03/16/12 04:40 AM
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Nice project! Are you using this as a crawfish, and BG growout pond?

Last edited by spinnerbait; 03/16/12 04:40 AM.

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If you have hogs, I would mount the feeders on a sturdy table with Tposts to hold it in place. If you don't have hogs, you're going to.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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spinnerbait - Yep, and hopefully the plan will pan out. My big lake is work! I absolutely love it, but only being able to devote probably 5 days a month to try to keep everything in check, I wanted a smaller pond to up my forage rate, and get back to feeding and fun. I'm keeping track of the time and dollars spent on the CNB pond, and hope it will be a win-win.

If it produces as I hope, I have 2 more ponds that I may do the same thing to next year.

esshup - So are you saying that the TH throws twice the volume of pellets the Aquapro does per second? That's interesting because I considered the Aquapro ADF75 for my next feeder. Do the pellets left in the feeder get wet and swell, or do they seem to throw correctly on the next cycle?


AL

FireIsHot #284326 03/16/12 06:11 AM
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Dave, hogs in Texas, who would have thought that! HaHa.

Actually, we've been lucky so far, but I've been keeping an eye on our place for signs. So far so good, but it's just a matter of time. We're probably a half mile from the Lake Fork water shed, and I know they're there.

Building a good sturdy platform was my last project, but wasn't happy with the ease of installation.

last one

I've got a plan for another feeder platform that I think will be far easier to build and set up. If it pans out, I'll build those for all my feeders.


AL

FireIsHot #284347 03/16/12 08:30 AM
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Originally Posted By: FireIsHot
esshup - So are you saying that the TH throws twice the volume of pellets the Aquapro does per second? That's interesting because I considered the Aquapro ADF75 for my next feeder. Do the pellets left in the feeder get wet and swell, or do they seem to throw correctly on the next cycle?


No, the ADF75 throws more food per second than the TH. It isn't as adjustable and doesn't throw it as far either. Sometimes I've had the AM600 bridge and clog the ADF75, and I've also tried using AM500 in it. When using AM500, I have to install a reducer baffle or it throws a couple pounds of food when set on 1 second. For some reason, when the fan kicks on, it sucks the smaller (and sometimes a few of the larger) pellets from the hopper. They don't get wet because they don't stay in the feeder overnight. Raccoons have found that they can reach the ones that are left behind every night.


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esshup #284363 03/16/12 09:47 AM
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I agree with Esshup's comments.
















ewest #284368 03/16/12 09:58 AM
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My gazinta's were backwards. That's good to know since I'm feeding minimal food right now. Once the CNB become accustomed to it, I'll add feedings.

Thanks, Al


AL

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FHot, I think I would probably put some hog wire on the sides of the feeder dock and a gate of some kind.

I'm aware of several feeders around Bowie that have wound up in the drink from hogs trying to get to the food. Those suckers are a challenge, pain in the butt and also a pretty good character builder.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Guess what? My new pride and joy got flooded this weekend, and now is part of my big lake.



I hated this after all the work/time and money I put into it, but how can I complain about the rain.

We got approximately 5" of rain in 30 hours, and I'm sure all my bream are now LMB snacks. I'll re-access the CNB left in the small pond tomorrow, and my need to restock.

My big lake is draining like crazy, so even if there's no more rain, I'm good for the year.


AL

FireIsHot #284971 03/21/12 08:49 AM
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the best laid plans of mice and men.............


Just make sure that after the water goes down that your forage pond doesn't have any resident LMB or other predators.

How'd the feeder fare?


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esshup #284976 03/21/12 09:05 AM
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Al, Esshup is right, you will need to check the little pond after it returns to normal levels. Otherwise, restocking might be called setting the buffet for them!.

Sorry to see the overflow, but it does beat last year.


Brian

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