Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Fat head spawn

How many pallets would you float for a maximum spawn? I am thinking a lot If I am looking for Maximum Growth of LMB in shortest time, here is what I came up with from past posts here, about the FHM. This will probably show my stupidity, as it shows up from time to time.
One # of FHM is 350 to 400 fish
I had 120 lbs stocked in the last 120 days
120 # x 375 (average fish count) = 45,000 FHM stocked
50%male/50% female estimated = 22,500 breading pairs
So how many pallets would you float?
Will they spawn on other, like sunk trees, or floating barrel piers, or root balls of trees?
And to carry this thinking out, to feed my fingerling LMB coming in June. 22,500 FHM pairs will produce 4,000 fry per couple from May through June giving me 90,000,000 FHM. Wait this can't be right ??? Is this right??
This is a 3.52 acre pond with 10 to 12 foot of water depth. This pond will have 150 LMB fingerlings coming in June. And yes CNBG and RES are also stocked along with TFS to be stocked asap. Thanks
Tracy

Wow Tracy that's a lot of figgering! Least nobody dumped LMB in yours before you were ready . As many baby LMB mine had( and there weren't many I don't think) is 125 LMB a lot to put in? As fast as my LMB babies grew last year they will spawn this spring. If you want big bass wouldn't it make more sence to stock fewer giving how much they eat, allowing the fat heads and CNBG more time to get spawns off? Just a question



Pat

Hay Pat, the LMB stocking rate was recommended by my fish guy, and I am on board for the ride One of the things I have learned here is, We !! older guys want big fish fast lol I am guessing we might not be around long before we meet our maker. Or that's just an excuse that is used by the older guys who stock new ponds.
Tracy

And Pat, if these FHM numbers are correct, the CNBG and RES spawning numbers have not been added to this and neither have the 10,000 TFS that will reproduce just after they are introduced to the pond.
I might be able to walk on the fish and never get my feet wet.

I just saw how fast the LMB fingerlings grew this last year- hundreds of them- and from what I've caught they are large enough to spawn this year to put a hurt on my YOY CNBG and BCP.. I'm with you with Overtons knowing their stuff. You will have catchable LMB by next summer



Pat

That is what I am hoping to do. And my plans are to cull the LMB numbers back as pond dictates, by fishing and charts. I have around 6 pallets out now in about 6 to 10" of water on the spawning side of the pond with two pallets made into pyramids that are set in 5 to 8 foot water depths. But with all those FHM I am wondering how many pallets to set out? I want a maximum FHM spawn. How many would u se out Pat?

I can't keep FHMs in there long enough to spawn.... But I have the floating dock and only one pyramid pallets with a rock pile and cedar tree attached to it.... But like I said the LMB spawn wiped out my baby fish population real quick. As you know I have BCP also so I'm sure they got some of the FHMs and GSH that I just recently put in .100#

I'm not sure how many pallets you will need but the more you get the better hiding places for YOY to hide in

Pat, as a newbe to pond building and stocking, and just leaning from what I have seen and read, I am thinking what u experienced with the bucket stocking would be a set back forsure. And to adjust, because we all adjust to what is thrown out there at us. It just takes u in a different plan of action and more greenbacks.
I understand what u r saying about the pallets but how many is enough? haha I can see it now, pallets scattered all around a 3.52 acre pond. 200 yds long and 100 yds wide. that's a lot of pallets to pick up after the spawn. And I am good at pointing and saying get that one, . But I'm not so good about climbing up and down steep banks with pallets in hand.
Tracy

I'm 63 and believe me I hear you. I'm leaving my pallet in there for the duration. I piled rocks on top so it's a permanent thing now. You are so right about the $ for extra food for those hungry mouths but hey it's all good..... Can't everything go smooth!


Pat

Tgw1, Don't know how well it is going to work but I "stacked" 5 pallets on top each other. I screwed each one to the next. I then drove pointed 1x4s into the ground on both sides and screwed them to the pallets to keep them in position. I have 5 stacks like that. 25 pallets. They are put in where at full pool they will be in 6 ft. water. But right now the water only covers 2 pallets high but can be utilized by forage fish. Will be good for added depth as it comes.Each stack is 6 ft from the next one in a line. I think I have photos of them under the projects forum. Just what I'm doing.

That should work good. FHM spawning till they get wiped out, then refuge for forage fish after.

I hope to don the scuba gear this summer and get some underwater pics of my under water structure with small fish around it.

I ended up w/15 pallets on my one acre pond, and the reproduction was staggering. Even after adding the predators over a year ago, I cannot see any reduction yet in their numbers. I've found that all pallets will eventually sink and require help to keep floating. I pull them onto the bank in the fall and put them back in spring and use foam noodles to help them stay floating all summer.

Brook
So your pallets float? I thought they were to be in 1-3' of water. So I guess that my floating 8'X24' pier T the floatation is the only thing that the fatheads will spawn on



Pat W

Yeah, I try to keep mine floating or as close to the surface as possible as they spawn on the underside. At least I see a whole lot more activity on the floating ones than the submerged ones. I'm sure you're good at the shallow depths you're at tho'.

Mine did well on submerged structure last year. I have read some guys cut up those wax covered cardboard boxes and let pieces float around on the pond. They say it last quite a while and then just biodegrades. I might try a little of that this year.

Keep in mind, one male spawns with numerous females in his nest. After a few weeks, another male takes over the nest. Spawning continues pretty much spring thru fall.

Brook, another poster said he'd had great success using waxed cardboard boxes, the kind meat comes in to grocery stores. The box is flattened to give max surface area, and the wax keeps them from getting waterlogged & sinking for several weeks (I think). FHM go crazy spawning on their underside.

After they become waterlogged, they sink and gradually decompose. No need to bring them in.

Only disadvantage is that they are temporary.

HA! Bill, you beat me to it!

Thanks for the input guys And along the floating waxed cardboard. Gives me the idea of floating about 25 pieces of treated 1x8's approximately 2 foot long. These were cut off when building my pier and my feeder station. They will float to the windy bank which might change from day to day, but might provide an underside area for spawning. Do u think the treated wood would harm the eggs of the FHM, and is this cut off enough area for the eggs? Some of u guys may have seen the eggs of your FHM's, so u think and area of 8x24 is large enough for spawning? And Flame, I think if I would have followed along your line of thinking with the pallet stack would have been great. But I can't see how I might get something to sink a stack at this point of the game. But I will keep thinking on how it might get done. Snrub, I have diving equipment if you r ever in N.E. Texas. And will they spawn on sunken trees and or barrels of floating pier?

Tracy
Tracy

I have seen a FHM male hollow out a spot under a rock no bigger than 5 x 5 inches. I do not know the optimum size but IMHO 2 foot boards should work great but don't expect more than one maybe 2 males using it at a time. I can't comment on the treated lumber as I have not tried that.

I've seen the same thing. I put floating pallets in my mini forage pond . But I noticed one FHM male had done as you said and hollowed out a hole beneath one of the limestone rocks I lined the bank with. He would pop out for a short while to feed, and back to his hole to attract a mate or take care of eggs.

They are territorial, so do need space between male nests.

I think they will spawn on anything that has an underside. I can't say if they have preferred materials of not, but if there is competition for spawning space I would say they would use anything.

I've heard here on PBF that they prefer things that stay put over things that float around the pond. I have always staked my pallets in place. They can move a little with water level changes, but don't float all over the pond. But that is something I just heard someone else here on PBF say. Can't say for sure.

I would not think the treated wood would be good, but in not too long algae will be growing on it and by then I would guess the FHM would use it. They might not take to it right away.

They will use the underside of a dock or whatever they can find. But once you get predators big enough to eat them, they will try and seek something with some protection if available.

+1 My pond is small which has its advantages. After I saw they were hollowing out under rocks, I just went around and made a whole bunch of little breeding habitats that consisted of three 4 or 5 inch round stones with a flat stone on top. I placed the 3 stones close enough to keep predators out from the backside with the main opening towards the shore. I call them little Flintstone houses after the old TV show. Within 2 days, all had happy resident males. They hollowed out under the flat stones to suit their preferences.

Note: I did this before I found PBF so I was just "winging it" based on my personal observations. I am sure there are a lot better ways.

I had my grandson with me yesterday and we put out 3 rock piles using the front end loader of the Kubota. He filled the bucket with softball to basketball size rocks (busted up concrete) and I dumped them in the deeper water along the shore line. Thanks for the Flintstone house story Bill D. And made some 24"x24" floating squares using duck decoy weights as an anchor to hold them in place. Its was just a good day when u get to spend it with the grandson.
Tracy