Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Catching bass

Ok, so we had a pond built in 2006 and stocked late in the year with FHM, BG and CC. The water got so low in 2007 that I decided to wait on putting LMB in. With more rain and a few leaks fixed they were stocked in June 2008. I started catching one every time I went out since March but only one. About 11 inches long. Now a couple I catch are at 12 but mostly about 13 inches. I caught 7 Sunday. I'm pretty happy. I just need more water. They look to be healthy and gowing well. Does 13 inches sound about right for being in the pond exactly 1 year? The pond guy told me they should be around 2.5 pounds by this fall. I think I'm starting to believe him.

What size were they when you stocked them? Those growth rates sound normal to me though...

They were the young of the year. I guess 2 inches, maybe? They look great. If I didn't know better I'd think they were already 2 pounds. They fight like it. I'm taking the fly rod out this weekend.

In a Northern pond what kind of growth should I expect after one year? I am seeing anywhere from 3"-7". Mostly 3-4" of growth without any feeding last year.

The small ones I've caught have been fat though as they have finally grown large enough to eat the small BG, they also seem to really like the AQMX 500.

In a northern pond of typical nature, I'd say 6" for YOY is excellent. However, in newly stocked ponds, where they pond is polluted with FHM you can see over 10" for those newly stocked bass... There are many northern ponds that a bass may only reach 3" by the end of its first year. Typically if they fail to reach 2" or so, they'll not survive the winter.

I caught 4 LMB yesterday in about an hour between 2 and 2 1/2 pounds. I'm pretty tickled. My understanding is that they would not spawn until next spring but I have caught some from 5-10 inches as well in the last couple of weeks. Either they are stunted or they did spawn this spring. Same thing with CC. I hear they don't spawn well but while most are around 20 inches I've been catching some about 6 inches the last few weeks.

The pond must be about right. Fishin' is good even if the stupid thing is leaking all over the place.