Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking multiple ponds

I would like some advice on what type of fish to stock some ponds with. Below is a list of the ponds with their sizes and what I type of fish I am wanting.

1. Brand new around 0.6 acre pond. Want this to be the main LMB pond a couple years down the road. I am fine with catching a lot of medium size fish instead of focusing on size. I would also like large bluegill here if possible. I Can keep this filled with a well if needed.

2. Existing 0.25 acre pond that has never been stocked. Want this to be a perch/catfish pond. I Can keep this filled with a well if needed.

3. Existing 0.2 acre pond. I want this to be filled with large bluegill for angling purposes.

4. Existing 0.35 acre pond. I want this to be filled with bluegill for angling purposes. May want to add catfish or bass at some point.

I would like to add minnows as well. Below is the list of available fish I will have available to stock.



I am located in central Texas. I think I should stock the prey fish this year and probably the predators next year (Correct me if I'm wrong), but I would like to get some advice on the type, quantity, and size of fish I should stock in order to create good sustainable environments in these ponds. Thanks for the help.

Welcome to the club 44!

I am, by no means, an expert on pond management, but you should start with the following thread about growing big blue gill...

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=189988#Post189988

Once you get through reading the info linked above, you will be very enlightened on how small ponds work with respect to BG populations and predation. Your larger two ponds have the potential to be great BG and/or HBG ponds with plenty of LMB action up to the 14 inch lengths. The linked thread will lead you to this conclusion.

It is likely to be common opinion that small ponds do not make the best LMB tanks. If you really want to grow some LMB in a small BOW, consider stocking only single sex bass and feed them up to size.

The small two ponds could be used for CC or even forage production.

I am interested in what others have to say and will be watching your thread.

Just to add another thought to QA post, If you want a bass pond in .6 ac you might look at feed trained bass. That way you can grow more bass than what .6 would normally support.