Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Musky/Bowfin update.

Last year I stocked a pond filled with Carp with 4 musky and 2 bowfin. I had a problem with the Dam and had a chance to remove most all the Carp over 8 inches long (well over 1000 pounds) That left the pond with a ton of small carp, and loads of native minnows as the pond is spring fed.

Subsquinty in the fall with the help of some young relatives the pond received around 120 adult BG, RE, and Red Brest sunfish. The Sunfish have made nests and are spawning just fine. I have observed the bluegills and redears but the twenty or so redbreasts have not appeared on the beds. The introduction of sunfish has not hurt the minnow population, which remains healthy, as do the numbers of carp. The bowfin and Musky have been observed and are growing! Because 6 top line predators in 3 ½ acres are enough I’m not going to add any more. I’m going to continue to remove any larger carp I catch. The water is much clearer with the absence of large carp; I’m hoping the Musky and Bowfin will keep their numbers down.

I’m thinking of adding LMB to the party, as there is plenty of forage to go around. I was thinking about a limited number of females. I would like a few big bass to go with the other big predators in the pond. I’m not really interested in a balanced pond with lots of predators but rather a pond with a few trophy fish. If the sunfish stunt they will provide lots of fun for the kids so no problem.

How many Female LMB could I add and how big should they be to prevent being gobbled by the now 15-inch musky and bowfin.

I am assuming that there are no LMB now , that there is enough forage to feed them , and the sizes of the musky and bowfin are 15 in. or less. If so then 50 10-12in. female LMB would be a reasonable amount and size. Less would be better IMO. Here is the risk ,first that you have or by mistake put in a male LMB, second that you keep enough forage in the pond. The more LMB you put in the greater the chance for a mistake (a male slips in). If you have many/stunted BG/sunfish then the chance of a successful LMB spawn goes down. It only takes one slip up though.

You're running a really neat experiment, John, with initial conditions and species most of us won't ever have. I am very interested to hear how things progress in the future.