When should I stock whatever predator I end up deciding on?
This IMO really depends on what forage species including panfish are in the pond, how long they have been in the pond, and what predators you decide to initially stock. The options are too numerous to fully describe here until you make some definate decisions on what the initial forage species will be.
To complicate this whole stocking combination thing, yellow perch will also do well (grow and reproduce) in midwest ponds as small as 1/4 ac and shallow as 7ft. Just something to consider before you make the initial sport fish stocking.
WE reproduction. Don't plan on them reproducing in a pond or smaller lake even spring fed one. In rare cases some ideal habitat ponds occassionally see a very few naturally produced WE. Bassically all WE populations inponds have to be supplimentally stocked to maintain populations. Lack of WE reproduction unless in ideal conditions is why all the midwestern states stock millions of WE each year into their BOWs. And some of these lakes are good habitat for WE, but still very low or no recruitment.
