Any added GSH prior to trout stocking should provide the brood stock needed to help diversify the forage fish base. A good start would be 4 to 8 pounds which is often 400-1000 shiners at 3"-3.7" although 100 shiners would also work okay as brood stock. Number of RBT to stock IMO would be dependent on how big they are at stocking size (see below).
I assume that your 1 ac high elevation pond will be nutrient poor with water visibilities of being able to see a white disk (Cool-Whip lid) or can lid 7 to 12 ft deep. How clear has the water usually been this past year? High clarity means the pond will produce fewer pounds of fish per acre. Literature indicates that natural productivity for trout water is in the range of 4 to 40 lbs of RBT per acre. Standard length of a 1 pound RBT is 13"-14".
Thus number to stock will depend on water clarity. Since you are not feeding pellets and if your water is clear with low productivity, you can stock higher numbers if they are 4"-6" long (50-100) and fewer if they are 10"-12" (40-60). The general rule for natural communities is the fewer that you stock will result in faster larger top end growth due to less competition and more available food for each fish. Feeding pellets to the trout will allow you to double or triple the stocking numbers. Others may have alternative plans.
If you stock this spring use the more conservative number and if this fall the higher number. Higher in fall stocking because minnows will have more time to create more forage fish. You can ladder stock, adding several every year or two, depending on harvest numbers and survival rates. Or just go with the original number and restock when RBT are old and numbers are dwindling. Restocking with larger trout will require the add stock are larger individuals of 10"-12" to prevent predatory loss of big trout eating smallest trout. Keep us updated to your progress. We are interested in this project since very few members here have a natural fishery of just trout and minnows. We can learn a lot from your experience.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 02/28/15 12:07 PM.
