Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Is one Predator species enough?

I think another big issue besides pure numbers is timing and perhaps even the size of the fish.

In my initial stocking my ratio was 4.3 BG to 1 LMB. By numbers only I should have had excessive bass production and a "big bluegill" type pond. But I ended up with over crowded BG and a few large LMB with limited or even no LMB recruitment. By the numbers what happened should not have happened.

But I think timing and size of fish in my case came into play. I stocked the BG on March 19 and for fingerlings they were very nice fingerlings. Most around 3" and a few even pushing 4". Obviously the previous years spawn. Then it was September before I stocked the LMB fingerlings which were also decent size but not large. Probably 4-6".

Had my initial stocking of BG been the size I got from another fish farm for later stockings of different ponds that were more like 1.5-2", maybe the BG would not have got the upper hand on the bass. Or if I would have stocked them at the same time.

But looking back and knowing what I know now, a lot of those 3" BG placed in March for sure spawned later that summer and it is very possible they could have spawned a couple of times or more before the bass were introduced.

Considering maybe a fourth to half of the fish spawned at least once before the LMB were introduced, and possibly even early enough before the bass were introduced so the fry were already big enough to escape the fingerling bass predation, the ratio at the time the bass were stocked could have grown into a ratio of hundreds to one.
I think there are a number of things that come into play besides just the stocking ratio. My 4.3 BG to 1 LMB got me a trophy bass type pond with overcrowded BG.

Edit: Another fact is I fed the FHM and BG, giving them even better growth and reproductive capacity.

So right on the size at stocking. Keep in mind what Bill noted about the differences North to South on this subject. In new ponds 3-4 inch BG will spawn quickly in warm water possibly multiple times. While LMB up north often don't spawn until year 2. That can easily lead to overcrowded BG with suppressed LMB spawning. Look in the next PB Mag issue for an article with surprising science on that topic.

That is not as common in the South as LMB stay active longer and usually spawn in yr 1. It can happen anywhere when large hoards of BG are present.

No matter the location achieving and maintain BG/LMB balance is like balancing on the knifes blade. Balance in BG/LMB ponds is not a normal state but is the exception.

All good info. I ended up stocking the LMB at a 18:1 ratio with the CNBG/re. The remaining 20 bass are HSB so they should not reproduce but will hopefully help put some pressure on the CNBG offspring??? The 20 LMB that I put in we’re all 6-7” fish (not sure if they would spawn this year or not? And the HSB are 4-6” fish. CNBG and red ears hit the pond in December and were 3” bass hit the pond in March so I don’t know how my timing is after all!!! I have seen the HSB and LMB patrolling the shallows a bit!!! I do have what I believe to be fat head fry around the edge of the pond but I don’t think the bluegill have just yet!!!

Please return and periodically keep us updated as time passes as to the apparent balance of species in your pond. You and us will learn from your pond stocking project. Until your bass are spawning expect to be aware of and manually manage the excess CNBG until the bass numbers can start reducing the BG offspring.

absolutely. Thank yall for the tips and info!!!