Hey guys! Lots of questions out there, but that is a good thing. I will try to start at the beginning.
1. Do first year spawns have the same growth potential as the original stockers? No, with each generation they decrease in growth potential
2. Billy Watson asked “How many years is 10 generations removed from the originals (are you talking 100 years)?” Now come on Billy, if it took 100 years to go through 10 generations, wouldn’t that mean that the fish were only bedding every 10 years. Sorry sweetheart, but I have yet to meet a male of any species that would bed only once in a ten year period
. Actually if stocked in the early spring, you might get F-3’s out of the batch before late fall. It all depends on water quality, feed, length of growing season … We have actually had a 3-4” GG with eggs. No joking there! They are amazing little creatures, but that is why it is SO important to introduce predators within a year. If that rule is not followed then you will end up with a pond full of stunted bream (we have all been there).
3. Eastland asked “what fish should I expect to see in my pond over time”. If the stocking program is followed properly, you should never have anything above an F-3 or possible F-4. Bass and crappie (and large cats) are structurally important for a balanced pond. But even if you went all the way to F-10, you will still have a GG, just a stunted one.
4. Bill Duggan asked about large stocking rates. First of all understand that about ½ of our ponds are experimental ponds (we learn day-to-day). We have found however that the Georgia Giants are more aggressive, therefore feeding heavier, when stocked in larger quantities. Our program generally follows this rule:
a) no feed or aeration in pond = do not go over 1000 bream to acre
b) either feed or aeration = do not go over 3000 bream to acre
c) both feed and aeration = up to 5000 to the acre (old numbers)
Herein you must keep in mind that the above stated only works with a well maintained pond. Water quality must be good (and can always be improved), predators must be introduced in a timely manner, and a high protein feed must be used. Now I am sure that half of you need a moment to pick yourselves up off of the floor due to these high numbers, so I will give you a chance to get up. Guys, these numbers have worked for us. Ultimately it is the customer’s responsibility; we are only here for guidance (as are you all). Anyone looking to spend thousands of dollars on their pond/lake would be either very rich or a little crazy (or both) not to do research first. We all have different success and failure stories, but we are here to learn from one another. And the fact that we are all still asking questions usually means we have done enough right to still keep us excited.
As for the 10,000 to the acre I am not familiar with this high of a stocking rate. A customer might have requested this if they were to have a fish-out pond, or were cage raising for wholesale, but again I am unaware of this. Does not mean it did not happen I just have not heard of such.
Bill also asked about sterile smallmouth bass. These are also known as hybrid stripe smallmouth bass and are personally my favorite predator. Reaching a maximum size of about 9 lbs, these little buggers will fight hook and line to the death (not literally). The major benefit of these fish over the largemouth is in the size of the mouth. Once a largemouth gets 2 lbs and larger, they have the potential to eat everything they can fit into their mouth (including the original F-1 Giants). These fish adapt well in water qualities over 51 (hardness and alkalinity), and we generally introduce them into a pond with a bag of sea salt. Just makes the transition easier for them.
5. Bill Cody inquired about sex (that did not come out right)! He inquired about
accurate data as to the percentage of males v/s females. This has never been validated by anyone outside of the hatchery (still varies with batch to batch), but that is a good idea. West Virginia Department of Biology, West Virginia State College Institute in West Virginia did a study on these fish that showed a growth rate 4 times that of the standard bluegill. They came down and purchased the 1-2” Georgia Giants (posing as regular customers) without our knowing of their research project. Then they returned several months later with a huge booklet stating the data they had come up with. WOW! We didn’t even know some of the things they came up with. The study was titled “Diet and Strain Affect Growth, Feed Efficiency, and Retention of Nitrogen and Lysine in Hybrid Bluegill.” It showed, among other things that over a twelve week period the GG had an overall growth rate of four times faster than other hybrid bream, that GG had a higher feed intake than other hybrid bream, and that the GG were more efficient feed consumers than other hybrid bream. This should be a published work that anyone can gain access to via the web.
I hope I did not miss any questions, and I apologize for being a day late in my response time.
Thanks,
Deb
