OK here is an example out of PB mag. I don't usually put this on the Forum. You guys need to get the mag. Here you can see what you are missing. In this case 2000 BG per acre is equal to twice the normal amount. You can get the same result by using 40 to 50 % of the LMB and the normal # of 1000 BG.
THE CUTTING EDGE – SCIENCE REVIEW
By Eric West
A recent article of interest Population Size, Survival, and Growth of Largemouth Bass One Year After Stocking in Four Ponds by Steve M. Sammons, and Michael J. Maceina, in 2005 Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 59:241–250, contains the following quote of interest to Pondmiesters “Although pond management has traditionally focused on maximizing fish production , in recent years a paradigm shift has occurred where many pond owners desire to maximize trophy largemouth bass production” . The fact that a paradigm shift has occurred in private pond management in recent years is certainly not new to the Pond Boss family. Even a cursory review of Pond Boss magazine or the Pond Boss Forum would reveal the interest of many of us in trophy fish management for largemouth bass or bluegill or hybrid striped bass or redear sunfish or yellow perch or smallmouth bass or catfish or even green sunfish among others. It is good that those in the more traditional fisheries science community are noticing the cutting edge methods used by the private sector and doing the research to test these methods. I will point out that based on studies like this and their personal observations private fisheries scientist presenters at last year’s Pond Boss Convention recommended stocking small bluegill at 2000 per acre (twice the old stocking rate) in southern largemouth bass ponds to achieve good growth rates.
Several eye-opening points worth noting from this study are paraphrased below.
Observational evidence suggested that the initial year classes of fish produce excellent fishing and likely have the greatest potential to maximize trophy fish production.
Size of largemouth bass differed among all four ponds ( from 2 to 11 acres), but was not related to pond size. Catch rates of large stock-size bluegills ( 5 inch average at the time) varied much less among ponds and was not correlated to pond size.
Due to the high bluegill stocking rate (150% of the normal suggested rate), largemouth bass presumably had an abundant food supply. The relatively low density of largemouth
bass, coupled with an assumed unlimited food supply, allowed these fish to forage at close to maximum rates, leading to rapid growth and high condition or relative
weight.
Bioenergetic models estimated that the largemouth bass population in these ponds consumed between 132 and 171 kg ha (roughly 150 lbs per acre) of bluegills in the first 300 days after stocking to maintain the observed growth.
Each population of largemouth bass was predicted to have consumed 4.2 to 6.7 times their own biomass in bluegills in 300 days to maintain these growth rates and biomass.
Recent research has revealed consumption-dependent error in many bioenergetic models, including the one used in this study, which was particularly large when growth rates were fast . Thus, the percent of maximum consumption by largemouth bass estimated in this study were likely underestimated which probably indicates that the bluegill densities in the ponds used in this study may not be great enough to meet predator demand in the future, leading to slower growth, poorer condition, and a possibly lower production of trophy-sized fish.
The fact that the high consumption rates of largemouth bass found in this study were probably underestimated serves as warning of how delicate predator-prey balances are in small ponds, and how easily predator demand can exceed prey supply if predator densities are not strictly controlled . One of the most common themes on the Pond Boss Forum is overabundant largemouth bass in ponds. This study plus current recommendations of 2000 stock size bluegill per acre appear to be a remedy for the tendency of southern ponds to quickly (2 to 3 years) get bass crowded.
The study can be found at this link
http://24.73.102.130/resource/dynamic/private/PDF/sammons-241-250.pdf on the web. It is interesting that its conclusions are similar to those expressed in the studies discussed in the last Cutting Edge column - While there is a lot to consider about the process of successfully stocking largemouth bass (or other species) … studies emphasize two absolutely critical basic biologic requirements - density (number of fish in competition) and forage base ( their food supply). This principle applies as well to the other fish species Pondmiesters like to grow including bluegill , smallmouth bass or hybrid striped bass . Keep the densities manageable and be sure they have lots of food to eat if you want good growth and resulting large sizes.