Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Question about BG

Guys, I have been reading about BG on here and wanted to see what your recommendation is. My pond is 1 1/4 acres and I live in Louisiana. My goal is to have nice size BG and LMB. I decided on CNBG but I am thinking about adding in a second breed of BG. What other will mix good with CNBG and LMB for my area? Thanks,

New pond?? Or do you have fish in it right now? If so what kind? The pros will need to know all the information about your pond first before making recommendations.

How deep is your pond?
Do you have aeration?
Do you plan or are you feeding right now?
Is your water in good shape? Bloom? Do you fertilize?

Most places say at the very least 10BG for every 1LMB.

I've even seen 30-1 on some sites.

The experts will jump in soon I bet...but give them the low down on your pond and your end goals.

I put RES in with my BG.

You'll want a good forage base to start with so along with CNBG and RES, about 10#FHM to start with is good too. Most will say hold off on LMB till the next year or at least fall if you stock in spring...gives them a chance to spawn at least a couples times. This info is all from this great site!!

I would just stick with the CNBG and RES

My pond is new and is at about half pool. It is 9 ft in the deepest spot but averages about 7 ft. I am going to go with a Texas Hunter feeder. I will also have 2 fountains. I will be stocking FHM and CNBG in about 2 months. What other BG would Ya'll suggest I go with and do RES grow close to the same rate at CNBG? If I stock this in Oct. what month should I add the LMB in? I live in Louisiana also.

From my reading and what I have seen on many sites somewhere around a 5-1 BG/RES rate. So if you get 500 BG get 100 RES. Really whatever you want on that. I think they are mainly there for diversity. I'm just now learning about the RES. I have read they are hard to catch, which maybe one reason most drop them so much lower than the BG.

I think they grow close to the same rate but get bigger from what I have seen. I have read they are not as easy to feed train...but there are some on the site, one with a video that shows their RES chowing on some Optimal.

Could you stock sooner than that? How far south in LA are you? I'm in SW Arkansas. Stocking in Oct you might not get a BG spawn. From what I found out yesterday from the experts here, they can spawn within 30 days...but in OCT that would put you in NOV. Maybe if you wait until May or June to stock the LMB you would get a spawn or two under your belt. I think the spawn is the major factor before adding the predators.

You have some pics?? Would love to see the pond!

it usually recommended the LMB get stocked the spring after the fall that BG/FHM are stocked. April/May timeframe. There is some folks that believe you should leave your BG/RES/FHM in for an extra year to really build up the food chain before adding predators.

Hey dj, How long have you had your pond? Looks as though you have a pond similar in size and fish that I will have. Did you leave your BG and RES in for a year or so? If so how is the ratio of fish now? What size are your bass and bream by now?

Peachgrower, I will take your advice on adding about 20% of the BG as RES. Answering your question, I am not quite half pool so I need more water which will take several months I would think. I don't have a water well. I am installing a sump pump so I can catch some of the rain run off. How much water do I need before I stock BG, RES and FHM? I will be putting a Texas hunter feeder in the next 30 days. My location is a small town in between Lake Charles and Lafayette. 5 miles north of I-10. Wasn't sure what you meant about when to stock BG, RES and FHM.

From what I have read you would be fine stocking them now. FHM for sure. You will want some floating pallets for the FHM to spawn under. They lay eggs on the bottom side of things. I'm not the one to take advice from. This is just from what I have read on this site. There are many experts here that do this for a living. I think you'll love that Texas hunter feeder. I have seen lots of videos on them. I was actually looking at the hanging style one, due to cost...but I think any extra money I'm going to pool towards aeration.

I still need another 2 ft or so in my pond before I can stock anything.

If you are at half full you likely could stock your forage fish any time. Keep in mind the fish will start out small so they do not need the water of the entire pond till they grow and multiply multiple times. I stocked my forage fish at half pool.

The more important thing is they have something to eat. Either a good algae bloom started or artificial feed.

I am north of you on the Texas La line outside of Shreveport. I added my fatheads and cnbg and redears in Nov at 1/3rd pool, and then added the lmb first of June. the cnbg were in the 2 to 4" size and the same with the res. you can add the fhs now but may want to wait on the fall for stocking brim but I would ask local fish supplier because u have some warm water most year round down there. That could make a difference on stocking time for the brim.

Tracy

IIRC, I stocked 600 BG, 50 CC, and 150 RES in Dec. 2005. Then 50 LMB in April or May 2006 as per the recommendations of the Mississippi extension service. My pond became LMB overcrowded in about 2 years as my BG population was less than desirable. As such, I had a decent amount of large BG(8-9") and some fingerlings but not much in between. And, of course, a large number of LMB in the 9-13" range. I believe there were several factors that led to this state:
1) The pond wasn't half full when I put in BG/CC/RES
2) I stocked CC (which grew quickly eating BG I suspect)
3) I wasn't feeding
4) I threw back all the LMB for the first 3 years regardless of size and condition

To rectify the situation:
1) started keeping any LMB under 12"
2) started supplemental feeding
3) put some habitat in the pond and around the edges of pond to help survival of YOY BG

This took a few years but has had good (not great) results. I have a good stock of BG in all size classes and LMB in the 4-5 lb class. I'd like to get bigger LMB (up to 6 lb) but I still don't cull enough LMB but I've started culling LMB based upon condition as well as size.

Also, I've added 18 HSB a few years ago that grew quickly and are now in the 4-5 lb. However, I think they've reached about peak size because I don't have a feeder to throw the Aquamax LMB food and have to fight the BG for the Aquamax 600 food thrown by the feeder. I hand feed the LMB food when I'm there but thats no more than once per week. I'm gonna start keeping those guys and introduce some smaller HSB big enough to avoid being a $4 snack for LMB.

Good luck!
Dan

DJS provides a classic example of how a newly stocked pond reaches carrying capacity in about 2 years in the south and then gets out of balance and is corrected. Well done !