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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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If killing off the pond isn't an option for you, then you need to solely focus on that forage base. If your goals are large bass, you're way behind already. Bluegill should probably be added immediately.
What I would do is try to remove as many bass now as I could. Fish, trap, cast net, seine, drain down, whatever you have to do. Remove as many as you can now, reduce their effect as much as possible. Proceed with your forage plans, but continue to remove as many of these bass as you can.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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It won't be long and those bass will be starving and will readily hit a small fathead minnow on a tiny jig. Hopefully they help you out by eating each other too. I don't think it's the end of the world, but your relatives definitely didn't do you any favors with this one.
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How long do you think those 10 lbs of FHM will last the 100 3-5 in LMB?
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I'd bet they are gone within a month.
Stock the BG now. Stock at least 2,000 of them and stock 400 RES too. You want the BG/RES to be a size where the largest LMB can't eat them. So, if you have 5" LMB in there now they have to be 2"-4" or 2"-3" fish. When you are buying fish, it's normal to have the majority of the fish to run at the small end of the size range. i.e. if the supplier says they are 2"-4", expect the majority of fish to be in the 2" range.
The longer you wait before stocking the BG, the bigger they will have to be.
If you can, get 20# of GSH 3" long or larger in there ASAP too.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Don't stock any other predators right now (HSB/BC) until you can get the forage fish established. This Fall, you could stock the HSB, and I would wait at least a year before stocking the Crappie.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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and I would wait at least a year before stocking the Crappie. At least. With an already volatile forage base, crappie could completely destroy any hope of pulling a big fish from this pond.
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Should I also add more FHM to keep the LMB from starving?
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Joined: Jul 2012
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Joined: Jul 2012
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Okay so.. 2000 3-4 in BG 400 3-4 in RES 20 lbs 3-4 in GSH
Then in the fall 100 6-8 in HSB, and either forget the crappie or put them in a year or so from now. Also should I add any mor LMB later on?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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I've got a problem. I just found out that my relative, thinking they were being helpful, went a head and put 100 LMB, and 10 lbs of FHM. So now it looks like I won't be able to stock my forage base and allow it to establish itself , then my predators at a later date. What can I do to fix the problem? If any consolation, my dumbest pond stunt ever.....many years ago .....stocked CNBG, RES and several hundred (!) CC fingerlings in brand new two acre pond. Good friend (?) invited me to fish his pond and transferred 10 adult LMB to new pond - BIG MISTAKE - DUMB A** me!! Before PondBoss forum, but found Bob Lusk and Bob Waldrop and asked for correcctive action: "Stock as many adult size BG that you can afford". Good advice - it worked. Good luck, George
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
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What size were the LMB that the friend stocked?
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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Joined: May 2009
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2009
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What are the drawbacks of stocking a few 4 to 6 lb LMB in an established BG/LMB pond?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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What size were the LMB that the friend stocked? 1 - 2 lbs.....
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Joined: Sep 2011
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In Sam417's case, I am wondering why it would be bad to add a few adult feed trained BG to kick off a minor early spawn to feed those LMB?
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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In Sam417's case, I am wondering why it would be bad to add a few adult feed trained BG to kick off a minor early spawn to feed those LMB? I think that's a good idea providing he also stocks the 3"-4" BG too. He's going to run out of forage fish relatively fast. Plus, the longer he waits before stocking the remainder of his forage fish, the larger the fish he'll have to buy to prevent the LMB from eating them.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Joined: Sep 2011
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In Sam417's case, I am wondering why it would be bad to add a few adult feed trained BG to kick off a minor early spawn to feed those LMB? I think that's a good idea providing he also stocks the 3"-4" BG too. He's going to run out of forage fish relatively fast. Plus, the longer he waits before stocking the remainder of his forage fish, the larger the fish he'll have to buy to prevent the LMB from eating them. I wasn't thinking to replace his initial mass stocking. I was thinking along the line of only 15-25 adults. That should get 5 to 10 pairs spawning. Too much/too little?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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You will get a quick spawn if adult BG pairs are stocked as soon as possible - worked for me. Lusk advised 7 adult BG for each adult LMB stocked - I stocked 100 hand size BG - problem solved. Of cource that many not needed for fingerling LMB. 5 to 10 pairs spawning sonds like good numbers to me. George
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I'd go heavier, 25 pair. Just be absolutely sure that they are pure BG! You don't want "Oh, these Look like BG but they have really big mouths and they have white/yellow margins on their fins, but I gotta get some adult BG in the pond so in they go."
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 80
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OP
Joined: Jul 2012
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I will be sure to find a hatchery to buy these bluegill from. Anybody have any suggestions for hatcheries in Missouri?
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Joined: Dec 2008
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23 |
I just want to know what I can do to fix the problem. With our weather pattern being very wet...siphon or get a trash pump running to drain your pond pretty low and add roughly 1000 pounds of hydrated lime till your water turns crystal clear. This will kill the LMB...cheap fix....then punch the stocker in the face...lol Your pond should be back to full pretty quickly, hydrated lime will be dilluted and neutrilized allowing you to restock in a week or two.
Last edited by Rainman; 03/24/13 12:14 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 80
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OP
Joined: Jul 2012
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Rainman, would it be possible to add the hydrated lime without draining the pond down? We drained a pond this summer, and it was not a very good experience.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Posts: 7,099 Likes: 23 |
You could...I have the boat set up to do it quickly...the Hydrated lime is really cheap, but it depends on your water volume. At full pool, draining as little as 3 inches could be a massive reduction in water volume since as the pond gets higher, the water volume is increased exponentially due to the slope.
Raising the PH rapidly is the key to it's effectiveness and while the PH will drop back down quickly (within a couple weeks) the lime could also kill wanted aquatic plant life if you have any.
Last edited by Rainman; 03/24/13 01:41 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 80
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OP
Joined: Jul 2012
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I will probably just go with the stocking of about 50 adult BG, 1500 3-4 in BG,400 3-4 in RES,30 lbs of GSH, and about 20 lbs of FHM as soon as possible, and then stock about 100 6-8 in HSB, and possibly some CC this fall.
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 80
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OP
Joined: Jul 2012
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Would I even need any adult BG if I were to stock 30 lbs of 3-4 in GSH?
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,315 |
Here would be my take on it........
The GSH should be big enough ,3"+, to avoid being eaten by the LMB. That means no food for the LMB until the GSH get older to spawn themselves. So the adult BG will spawn now giving food for those LMB till they get bigger, and will prevent the LMB from getting stunted. When it comes to LMB, they are eating machines. It would also be nice to still have some of those GSH around when you stock the HSB. So having the BG fry will help distract the LMB from the GSH. You will not be able to get GSH established so easily, once those LMB get a little bit bigger. In the long term, GSH will most likely disappear from the pond.
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by Bill Cody - 05/06/24 07:22 PM
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