Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond Fail....Disgusted

I imagine most of them will be eaten...just hoping they buy me enough time to allow for a good successful spawn. With the amount of bass that still need to be removed, there shouldn't be an issue with "under predation"

Bill...also don't forget your original stance....I under stocked bluegill.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. My concern in that post was that you might have too many LMB for the size of the pond and they might over eat the small BG forage, not that you had under stocked BG.

Once you posted that you had lots of 6 inch BG I posted:



I think you are correct that a lot of the 4000 just stocked will go as snacks. Your LMB will probably spawn this year, if they haven't already, and any recruitment will add to the biomass as well. Lots of variables. Please don't think I am trying to "rain on your parade!" Just an observation that it seems like a lot of fish for that size pond. I would still watch water quality, especially in the hotter months.

Keep us posted,

Bill D.

I understand what you mean, no worries. My LMB did spawn last year at multiple stages. So much so, that I am still catching some 4-6" bass, which tells me that those guys probably hatched out this past fall (and didn't have much to eat). I am hoping that I have removed a good portion of the original stock (maybe 50%)....so now I am harvesting only fish under 12 inches. I really expect to see an explosion in weights of the original stock this year. Who knows though, I may walk out one day and everything I have be floating. With that said, what are your recommendations for aeration at a reasonable price? I have power run down to the lake, so I am not really limited by anything (other than $).

I missed that you were/are harvesting so many LMB. IMO definitely the right thing to do and should help with capacity concerns. Those remaining LMB should grow like crazy!

Check out the aeration threads for lots of advice that should provide some guidance.

If I understand it correctly, here in E Texas, a natural pond will carry around 100 lbs of fish per acre. A fertilized pond will carry 300 lbs of fish per acre and a pond that is fertilized and aerated will carry 600 lbs pf fish per acre. The 600 lbs might be pushing things but that is what I understand how it is here. My aeration cost runs around $60 bucks per month for 3.44 acres plus the cost of the system. As per DD claim, ponds, corvets and women can be costly

Carrying capicity is highly varaible -- IT DEPENDS !

In unfirtile unfed southern waters 100 lbs is about right. However there are lots of naturally fertile ponds in the south. A fertile pond (natural or by fertilization)can carry 300-400 lbs of fish. A fertile pond with feeding can carry 600 lbs. In any agumented pond (fertile or fed) you have to watch water quality. Aeration is a method of incerasing carrying capicity (the waters ability to sustain O2 to the fish) but absent enough food will not materially effect the poundage of fish. Aeration can cause other chemical processes in the pond and may increase natural food sources. The ability of the water to carry fish biomass (it is a chemical system) is related to but not identical to the amount/poundage of fish in a pond.

Eric, I forgot the food lol, can't grow without food. That is why you make the big bucks. Thanks for keeping me covered here, and without pay!

So my lake, at full pool, is 1.5 acres, with most depths around the 6' range on average. Obviously the bank areas are closer to the 2-3' range, and I also have some areas in the 8-10' range. I have a pretty large fluctuation from May to Oct (approx. 3' on average), with it reaching full pool again around the New Year. I am thinking surface aeration is probably my best bet, but that amp draw is pretty high. Any down side with going to a diffuser system in shallower water like I have? Any thoughts?

Anybody?

I'd use a bottom diffusion aeration system, in the deepest part of the pond. The shallower areas will take care of themselves providing you have a good phytoplankton bloom or submerged vegetation.