Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Purchased property with existing pond

I just purchased a bank owned property that has about a 1/3 acre pond that is about 4.5ft deep in most parts and that's the deepest I've found. It's in southern Ohio and I am wondering about several types of fish cause he also has about 4 smaller ponds that go about 3-4 feet deep that I beleive I can use to grow forage fish or have some unique ones in if I so choose.

The main existing pond has healthy bluegils, yellow perch which I've caught. I've seen some other fish in there as well I beleive I've seen LMB and I put a few CC in there. I want to add about 4-5 walleyes in there as a bonus fish. Any reason they won't live? One or 2 muskies a bad idea?

Considering adding in the deepest of the small pools a paddlefish and blue catfish as some nice monsters to look at. This subpool will be about 4 feet deep and 20x20feet. Anyreason this wouldn't work? Thoughts on Muskie here?

Also from browsing alot of fish hatchery websites and reading alot of posts it seems people are not big fans of black crappies in small ponds. I however am interested in white crappies since they get to a pretty good edible size but can't find a whole lot of information about them let alone where I can get them from.

1/3 of an acre is not a lot of water to work with. Read up on carrying capacity in here. If you decide to add WE, you'll need to remove some LMB. Also, you 'll need to stock advanced sized WE to prevent them from becoming expensive LMB snacks.

Musky in a 1/3 pond is asking for issues. They are eating machines. Muskies are probably best for 5 or even 10+ acres....

White crappies are even harder to manage than black crappies. They are more prolific, but otherwise are similar in why they shouldn't be stocked in smaller ponds. With intensive management, one can SOMETIMES be successful with crappies in ponds but expect a lot of work.

Does keeping a constant stock of FHM, Golden shiners and Brooder golden shiners stocking in the pond help this cause of getting walleye added? I plan to use one of the large subpools about 30x10ftx3ft as a strictly minnow breeding ground so I can distribute them out and avoid giving the fishery's rights to my credit cards.

To an extent, but it's a fine line. Keep in mind it takes roughly 5 to 10 pounds of forage fish to grow 1 pound of predator fish.

Nice, Appreciate the quick responses CJB. So do you have any thoughts on why a blue catfish / paddlefish / muskie would be a challenge or bad idea for a subpool 20x20x4 basically to just show off some monster fish to the nieces/nephews? I imagine the blue/muskie will be hungry hippos but wondering if I'm missing anything else

Water quality and keeping them fed would be the major issues. If you're just trying to make an oversized "koi" pond to have a "pet" musky or blue cat in, you can work it. It's just a matter of keeping water quality up and the fish fed.

Thanks... ok so here's my latest catch today and I have no clue what this one is. The leaves are deceiving there actually kinda big cause it makes the fish look smaller in my opinion.. This fish was about 10 inches long and pretty fat. A little hard to tell from the picture but the fish had a brownish tint to it. My guess is a carp. If this is what it is am I in trouble? The pond only has had since I've lived there (only 2 weeks) low visibility and very hard to see in without sunlight. It was a tad green so I was assuming it was algae. Now I'm wondering if it's muddy water from these Carp. I guess I can keep trying to fish them out if clearer water is my desire. I saw the other day what I was calling some "monster" size fish for a 1/3 acre pond but I never got a real good look at it other than thinking it was really fat. Perhaps the puzzle is coming together

close up:
http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a562/tokarzjf/20130517_183010_zps8a7be963.jpg

further away:
http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a562/tokarzjf/20130517_183005_zps66b4f191.jpg