Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Largemouth bass genetics.................

What are people's thoughts about stocking largemouth bass to an existing and well established population of LM bass just to diversify the genetics of the lake. Even if you are stocking northern strain bass, does that make sense..........Thanks.

Yes folks do, do this. I have both FL and Northern. Some use F1's which is a cross between the 2 and seem to be more aggressive to biting lures over and over than say FL bass. Lots and lots of talk on here about this in the Evaluating and adjusting fish population and corrective stocking.

Spicelanebass, I'm way far away from your area code, but I have bolstered my CNBG and LMB with new genetics for the last 4-5 years.

Adding hatchery sized LMB to any pond that has larger LMB, is just like adding 4-6" mottled colored trout for additional forage for your LMB. They'll get eaten. If you do go this way, you might save time and money by finding larger fish to stock. 8" to 9" LMB have a far better chance of survival than 4"to 6" LMB, and 10" to 12" LMB should make it just fine.

I would also think about the catch rates, and general condition of your existing LMB. If you're catching LMB that are thin, then removing existing LMB prior to the addition of the new LMB might be a good idea. Adding different genetics probably wouldn't help if those existing babies are hungry, or undersized. Adding more LMB, regardless of genetics, will just stretch the forage base even further.

I'm very pro new genetics, but getting a good feel for what you already have, and what you expect of the new fish, will help you if you do pull the trigger on new genetics. We have a larger pond, but between culling and electroshocking, we've removed 150-200 pounds of LMB this year. We're replacing those with 25 LMB that we're currently growing to a survivable size in another pond. Ours were purchased at 5-6".

Good luck, and keep us in the loop. Nothing's more fun than adding new fish to a pond, and seeing positive results.

I stocked 1-1.25 lb. LMB into an existing pond on June 9th. Northern LMB. This pond had a LMB stunting problem and I first harvested 40 fish 15 inches or less per acre. This particular BOW is 1.6 acres so I took out approximately 60 fish.

This Pond is also a bit of an experiment for us and I added a TX Hunter LM135 feeder along with 400 adult (5"-7") native northern BG as well.

This was for genetic diversity and also to try and grow some trophy size LMB in this rather small pond. And, of course, we didn't want the existing population of LMB to eat the stockers. The fish stocked were in the 12-13 inch range. The price was $10/lb. So far so good. We will have a better idea of how the project is going in the spring of 2018. BM61.

Lots here on the subject. Yes it works when done correctly . Northern LMB will work with this concept. See the latest issue of PB mag about genetic rescue.

Your chances of growing some trophy sized LMB in your 1.6ac pond would be better if those 12"-13" stocker bass were pellet trained so they could stay well fed each day by eating along with the 400 adult BG at your new feeder. The more bass can eat, the more they will grow. Competition with other bass in the pond for live food will slow the growth of the newly stocked subadult bass. To grow trophy bass, the fish need to EASILY and with a low amount of effort get their belly full each day. Each hour their belly is not full is time they are not growing.

Yes Bill the LMB added to our pond are pellet trained as are the 400 adult BG we stocked. It took a week or two but they seem to be acclimating well to the feeding times (twice each day) and their new environment. I didn't want the stockers to only rely on natural forage to fill their belly's each day. BM61.

Okay - locate and feed some good quality food to the bass and BG and you will get some great fishery things happening in your 1/4acre. Remember when you feed the fish, regularly harvesting some of them is wise fish management. Which ones to remove depends on your goals for the fishery structure.