Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What's the % of new stocked fish loss?

I've posted on here a couple of times about not seeing any sign of the fish I stocked in my pond back in October (300 1/2" BG and 50 2" CC).

I still havn't seen any activity.

How big should these fish be right now?

Will the BG spawn this summer?

And what's the chances that all of them are dead?

I think you have a real problem. You ought to be seeing SOMETHING!

Well there has been low visability few a couple of weeks. I can only see about 1 foot in the water, due to heavy rains.

I've tried to get in touch with a fishery biologist with the state, and haven't talked to one since March. He said at that time that I should see them in May.

Still could be early, whats your water temp?

Bill, I'm not sure, I haven't checked it for a couple of weeks. It was 67 then, but since then we've had very cool temps. Highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid to upper 30s.

After having done both spring and fall stockings a few times now, I am more in favor of spring stockings.

This is because you have all summer to observe the new fish. For us northern pond owners, the fall stockings only give us a month or two before freeze up, and who really knows what happens all winter long.

Then along with spring thaw comes spring despair while we wait to see any signs of the fall stocked fish.

Sunil, do your fall stocked fish eventually show themselves?

I went through a lot of what you are going through when I stocked my pond four years ago. You put them in right at the start of winter and it is still cool. When the water temp get to 70 and stays there and you see no activity then worry! I did not see my catfish for a year for some reason.

To answer your question in a new pond the survival rate should be high for stocked fish.

Those were very small fish you stocked. Mostly bream are stocked 2-3 inches and cats 3-5 inches

scsims and others ;

Most states have a publication on how to manage farm ponds or recreational fish ponds. I strongly advise all pond owners to check on line with your state's cooperative extension service where the book can be viewed. These books contain all the basic info you need .

Kentucky has such a publication . I just looked at it and it says that BG should be stocked in early {Sept.} fall to have them spawn the next spring/summer. My guess is that your BG are there and are about 3-4 inches long and will spawn later this summer. This assumes there has been no fish kill in your pond for some other reason. It has been an unusually cold spring in the south and spawn is late. Our BG in central Miss are just starting {last week} to move shallow to spawn. I hope this helps -- good luck-- let us know what happens. ewest

We began a feeding program after stocking. The fish figured it out quickly. It is a good way to monitor fish survival, growth, habits, etc.

We use gamefish chow from the farm supply store.

Joe

scsims, I really can't say for sure if I've specifically seen the previous fall's stockings again after insertion.

But also keep in mind that I've done multiple stockings of overlapping species of fish. So there's always fish once the water temps perk up. I don't have a way of knowing from which stocking any given fish is from as I don't do any kind of marking.

I am fairly certain though that any future stockings of "game" fish that I do will be during spring times. I'll still chunk in shiners and fatheads in the fall times though.

I'd better print my posting out here and re-read it this upcoming fall. It's just that when the fish truck comes around, it's hard to maintain control.

Bill, just checked my water temp this evening and it's right 57.

Down here at 57 you won't see hide nor hair of a fish in a pond....I'm betting they are still there and doing just fine.

scsims,
I walked my pond edge yesterday evening and only saw very small fatheads-no bg at all. I have only seen the bg once or twice and that was back in the late winter on a warm afternoon in shallow water, and my pond had good visability. 500 small bg were stocked last fall. 100 coppernose bg, 100 redear, and fatheads were stocked in Feb. The late cool weather is probably not helping. We got down to 34 last night and 35 the night before here in southern mid Tennessee.