Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking a 100'x30' pond

I have a 100x30' pond in NY that is around 10 ft deep for 5/6 of the pond and then 4 ft for the rest. I would like to know what plants to plant in the shallows (submerged) and what fish I should stock. Bowfin will be the primary predatory fish (I'll catch them) and I need forage fish, I just don't know what kind and how many. Please recommend the plant species I should plant (at a nearby lake, there are the 'reed-like' plants that can grow 4 ft underwater. I thought it was rush but apparently it cannot survive 4 ft underwater. What plant is this?) and how many forage fish/bowfin I need to stock. Thanks

Bump

Hey Catin,

Welcome to PBF! Here is a thread you might want to read on Bowfin.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=395764

Again Welcome,

Bill D

Thanks. I read that one but it doesn't answer all of my questions regarding this post.

Does anyone have experience with bowfin reproducing in a small pond? Know their needs for spawning.

I would only plant shoreline emergent plants. Examples are native blue flag (blue water iris) and or spike rush (Eleocharis species). Bull rush hard stem or soft stem will take over your pond.
Iris versicolor - Blue water iris; Native
http://www.onlineplantguide.com/Plant-Details/4339/
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/P...sprofile=0&
http://www.cumauriceriver.org/botany/np-irve2.html
http://www.gatewaygardens.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/185/index.htm



http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/graminoid/elepal/all.html
http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/cyperaceae/eleocharis-palustris.htm
http://courses.washington.edu/esrm412/protocols/ELPA3.pdf
Sort version spike rush
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/grasses/plants/needle_sprush.html
https://www.prairiemoon.com/seeds/grasses-sedges-rushes/eleocharis-acicularis-spike-rush.html
https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/eleocharis/acicularis/

I assume that you have access to collecting your own bowfin? For forage fish it will depend on your goals. What are the ultimate goals for the pond? Initially I would do homework and use the same suggested species as for LMB or SMB, providing the bowfin will or willnot reproduce in a small pond. Best forage fish for LMB & SMB are different. If you are willing to constantly ladder stock bowfin then increasing their number periodically would be not problem when you need more predation effort.

I doubt that any member here has primarily bowfin as the main predator in any size pond so you will get little if any practical experience been there done that advice from us. We can help you make some educated guess work. If bowfin do not spawn that can be a benefit because you will be better able to control the forage fish populations. You might be able to use HBG as a forage and produce harvestable panfish if you do not want the bowfin to get large to where they are eating larger HBG. Supplemental stocking of larger forage fish may also become a problem.

Your experiment will be educational and very interesting. Please keep us updated. You are traveling in new pond fish growing territory. I look forward to hearing more about your plan and eventual progress.

Bowfin create a cavity type nest out of vegetation. If the pond is devoid of vegetation, you may see little to no bowfin reproduction. Their reproductive method is similar to the northern snakehead.

Alright, so is 1/3 of the pond filled with weeds good enough for spawning? I've considered bass but bowfin fight harder and they are hardier. Bowfin will be the primary predatory fish. Educated guesses are fine since I have little to no experience with establishing a community of fish in a pond.

Thanks

One last thing, can you plant the iris and or spike rush seeds underwater and will they spread throughout the shallow platform? How many will I need to buy?

From experience I would only plant, transplants, not seeds. Seeds IMO will be too risky unless you are lucky or experienced with seed growing.