Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,116
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,420
ewest 21,475
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,112
Who's Online Now
1 members (Dave Davidson1), 781 guests, and 228 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
Last year I stocked 30 BG @ 8" or larger. I stocked about 2000 FHM, Crayfish, PKShrimp, and tadpoles to get the food chain going.

In the fall I then stocked 200 LMB fingerlings. This spring I stocked another 2000 FHM and added 20 YP from sizes of 5" - 9".

I have been using the smallest of hooks and worms and I have yet caught a single LMB. I find it very unlikely that the LMB didn't make it as there were TONS of FHM swimming around the shore this spring (before I added more).

My BG are spawning right now. I have a total of 24 beds that I counted.

Should I be concerned? Or should I wait until next year to add a little bit more mature LMB to the pond? Pond size is only 1/4 acre so I'm not super worried at this point, just unsure of what my next step should be. Something else worth noting is I'm feeding (doesn't seem to be much eating it though) and aerating.

I have the ability to catch and transport YP, BG and LMB to my pond in varying sizes. I also have the ability to purchase a number of different sizes as well, it's just hit or miss when they're in stock.

I could also change the predator to a combo of LMB, HSB, SMB or just one of the three.

Opinions welcomed

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420
Likes: 794
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,420
Likes: 794
Patience Grasshopper!! wink grin

A client had the same concerns. Stocked LMB in the pond 2 years ago at 3"-5". None to be seen for a year +, and none caught. This Spring? Some 14"-16" were seen bedding.


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
Well that's what I wanted to hear esshup. I figure there's no way some didn't make it. I also figure the pond is small enough that even if it does get over run, I can handle the problem.

I'm glad it's a pond newb concern.

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
R
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
R
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
I agree with esshup...Patience!

On a side note, 200 LMB fingerlings and only 30 adult BG? Let's hope about 175 LMB became snacks and that you don't have 24 male BG out of the 30. If your goal is some monster gills, 200 LMB could be a big help. If balanced was the goal, it might take some work to get now.

No matter what happened, it will take some time to know what the dynamics will become.

Last edited by Rainman; 05/28/14 09:36 PM.


Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
The goal was larger BG at the start. These days I don't care so much. It's funny what having a young child will do to you. He likes keeping the fish to eat them which is why I added the YP.

I also had planned on pulling some of the bass out as they grew. I was going to look at the RW of the fish and get some of the skinny ones out of the gene pool.

On a good note, I took a look at my notes last night and it was only 100 bass, not 200.

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
R
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
R
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
Lucky, if you want bigger BG, you should expect, and want a bunch of skinny bass in there to eat most of the BG spawn. This reduces competition for food among the few BG that escape becoming a stunted LMB's meal. Those can grow really big, but there just won't be a lot in there to catch. Also, for big BG, remove the healthiest, fattest LMB for table fare...these LMB have figured out how to hunt your wanted BG, well.

For nice size LMB AND BG, you'd want about a 6-10:1 ratio of BG to LMB and then remove skinny bass at about 50#/acre annually.

Last edited by Omaha; 05/30/14 02:12 PM.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
Apparently all I had to do was talk about the bass and I finally catch one. And I'm not sure why I keep typing in LMB when I know I have SMB...

Pretty nice growth too from last year. Stocked these as fingerlings in August last year

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag368/lukkyseven/20140531_193702_zpsa9b9ebcc.jpg

http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag368/lukkyseven/20140531_193712_zpsc29e3e6f.jpg

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
R
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
Offline
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame
Lunker
R
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,099
Likes: 22
If you have smallies, 200 would be fine in there! Smallies are very unlikely to control BG, allowing the BG a good chance to overpopulate.



Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
L
OP Offline
L
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 312
I hear that rainman. I'm not overly worried about it. I have an extra 40 HSB in the pond as well. It's only 1/4 acre and I plan on manually removing a slot class of BG to help.

If I HAVE to add LMB in a couple of years I will.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
cro, HC1968
Recent Posts
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/29/24 01:06 AM
pond experience needed
by esshup - 03/29/24 12:45 AM
New pond middle TN: establishing food chain?
by Bill Cody - 03/28/24 07:57 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by FireIsHot - 03/28/24 07:33 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by PRCS - 03/28/24 06:39 PM
Fungus infection on fish
by nvcdl - 03/28/24 06:07 PM
Can anyone ID these minnows?
by Dylanfrely - 03/28/24 05:43 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 04:48 PM
Yellow Perch Spawn 2024
by H20fwler - 03/28/24 04:29 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by LANGSTER - 03/28/24 03:49 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5