Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose My HSB are on the way!!!

Just got the call...I've got 300 6-9 inch HSB that will be delivered in the next week!

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

Of course now I'm thinking about logistics...did I screw up not getting the larger size range, should I try to feed them via pellets or let them go 'native', etc.

I'm so excited!

I would get them on pellets to get max. growth.

Congrats...how big is your pond?

What can you tell us about the pond? Size, depth, forage base, aeration?

That sounds like alot.?

What do you have in for a forage base?

8 acres. Average depth of 12-16 feet. Deepest point is 28 feet. Built 4 years ago. Initial stocking of bg, res, lmb and (accidentally) bc.

Additionally adding fhm out of a grow out pond.

Do you plan to feed pellets? Any other forage species, like GSH?

Please take some stocking photos

Another vote to get them on pellets asap.

Congratulations on your HSB - you will love them.
If you plan to keep your HSB program current, what I do is determine numbers to stock each fall and you will have a new crop each year.

The reason for fall stocking is to obtain the best fast growth HSB. Spring 6-9 inch
stockers many times are stunted "carry-over" fish.

Good luck - did I say I love HSB?
George

Honestly I wasn't planning to - but I'm considering it.

If you want to see good growth, I would stock some sort of fusiform open water forage species. Really the only candidate that fits that bill are GSH. BG really aren't an ideal forage species for HSB. They are very round shaped with spines. HSB have small mouths compared to LMB. Also, BG are generally cover oriented while HSB are an open water species. I am not saying HSB will not prey on BG, they will. BG just aren't the best forage option for them.

If you want to see excellent growth, especially early on I would also start a feeding program with a high quality pellet.

If you do stock GSH, try to obtain the largest stockers available and stock at a minimum 15 pounds in a pond your size.

I agree with CJ. TShad work very well for us but it is to cold in Ill for them. GShiners would be a good choice also. GShad - no to big and productive.

I'll check with my fish guy...see if he has any golden shiners.

I'm looking at adding both FHM and GSH - FHM I'll put into a grow-out pond and periodically release offspring - GSH I'm getting at 3 inches (not sure how many yet) and will stock at the same time as the release of the HSB.

Well after a slightly longer delay than anticipated the fish showed up on Saturday...

Guy showed up in a pickup which concerned me at first, but then I checked out his rig and talked to him and all was well. Fully oxygenated system with some really lively fish. As of this morning I haven't found a single mort.

Pics....









Haven't had any luck getting them to feed (that I've seen anyway) - I'll keep trying though.

Did you end up getting any GSH?

Let us know how things progress...

Unfortunately no GSH or FHM...he was out of both. I'm trying to find a local (ish) source. No luck yet. He will have some in a few months - I'd rather not wait that long.

try logan hollow or fountain bluff

CJBS....would you say tilapia are a good spring, summer, fall, forage for HSB?

Or since Tilapia seem to stay close to shore does that make them an inferior HSB forage as well?

Tilapia are similar in shape to BG and also have spines. So they are much like BG as far as forage goes for HSB.

Good forage species for HSB are any of the suitable pond Cyprinids, especially GSH and also SFS as well as FHM and BNM to a lesser extent. In southern climates, TFS are the ideal forage species. In southern climates inland silversides would also be a good forage species for those with larger ponds and for more northern climates, brook silversides would be a good option.

Thanks CJBS...