From your post in the other forum...
thanks for the questions, CJBS. It will help my thought process.
I am looking for a fishing and swimming pond with LMB BG and HBS. I don't need lunkers in any of the groups, just want to have fun in my back yard. Plan on harvesting for food. beyond that, I want it to be as clean as possible.
I plan on aerating, but maybe not the first year (cost).
Any feedback is great. The pond is a clay pit filled with water and ice right now. it is a pretty empty canvas.
My reply:
As far as the fish species to be stocked in your pond. Your basic LMB BG pond can sometimes be difficult to manage, but if you start it off right, you'll save yourself a lot of work in the long run. By HBS in your post, I am assuming you mean HSB(hybrid striped bass)? If so, here are my recommendations...
This spring, stock 10-20 lbs of FHM to your pond in the fall stock 250 BG.
The following spring, stock 30 LMB. Then the following spring after that, stock another 30 LMB. If you are interested in the HSB I would say stock around 25 without aeration or feeding in the fall each year. HSB do not reproduce so you will have to stock them annually. The first couple years you can get away with stocking smaller fingerlings, but as the LMB age, you will have to stock larger HSB or they will become expensive LMB feed! Feeding your fish will certainly assist the HSB and the BG. That is up to you though. Aeration is not an absolute, but if finances allow it may be advisable particularly as the pond ages. If you are looking for food fish and sport, CC may be another option that is low maintenance but adds another option for the table and will not affect the balance of your pond.
Your reply:
do want to follow up about the stocking. Yes, I was thinking stripers. Jones hatchery has it on the list. I am not a catfish person, so was not planning on them. Do I really have to wait that long to stock the BG and LMB? I am brand new to this. I want to do it right, but it is disappointing. Why should I wait? If this should be moved to a different forum, let me know.
If you don't like catfish, no need to stock them. The nice thing about CC is you can at anytime later stock them if you decide to. It is completely up to you. As far as waiting to stock fish. You can stock what ever you want when you want. But in my experience, if you want to get your pond off to a good start and minimize future corrective management I would stick with the stocking sequence and numbers I mentioned... You could bump the BG stocking up to this spring when you also stock the FHM and perhaps stock the LMB this fall, but I would be patient and stick with my original stocking recommendation.
I do not know of any hatcheries in SW Michigan. I do know of a few in Minnesota and Wisconsin but perhaps members from your neck of the woods may have more ideas as to sources for your future fish...
