You're doing a lot of things right with your new lake in Arkansas, so you must be getting good advice. And you're listening.

We especially approve of the timing in your stocking schedule, the way you have allowed your forage species to get well-established before introducing largemouth.

With bass, and most other stocker fingerlings, generally the larger the fish, the more advanced in its development, the better its chances of survival. Bass are no exception.

It follows, then, that 1-2 inch fingerlings are less likely to survive than than the 2-4's and the 4-6's. The smaller fish, however, are much less expensive. There's also the element of time.

Even as far south as Arkansas, December is not considered prime time for stocking fish, though your new fingerlings should do fine making it through the winter. If you wait until December, we suggest you postpone your bass stocking until the waters warm again next spring, generally in March.

We recommend you shop around. Search the Resource Guide on this site. Seek out the largest, most advanced bass fingerlings you can afford. For best results, stock your fingerlings before the first killing frost.

While you weigh your options, kindly indulge me in one bit of capitalism. . . We don't do much of it here at Pond Boss, but we are bound by a budget to do a little, just to stay in business so we can keep providing you with information.

As you see, pond owners and managers, professional and amateur, gather here every day to share their experiences. To get full benefit, call our office to have a free sample of Pond Boss sent to you, then consider subscribing. Twenty-nine dollars a year will provide tons of tech support for your new lake.

Mark McDonald
Editor, Pond Boss