Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose More predators?

Bruce wrote in another thread... This makes me wonder about the amount of FHM I have in my pond. I have millons, every where you look you will see fry and yoy up to 1" then up from there. Last year I originally stocked if I remember right 5lbs. FHM maybe a little more, 50 res 100 HBG and 20 CC and I had 12 gold fish that ended up reproducing what looks to be 30-50 offspring this year, looks like only a couple of the larger goldfish have survived the heron but thats ok for me. My orginal plan was to stock the HBG and RES last year get a base going then stock a bass of sorts this fall all the while supplementing with pellet for what ever will take it.

Goals are to have big fish and plenty of fish to catch. I have a 1/4 acre pond and have been fighting the urge to add more fish.

I will have to wait for the small mouth if I want to try them in my pond which I understand is debatable if they would survive or not.

My question is... When is the right time to add a bass to the mix

It may be too warm for commercial stocking of bass now; the pond certainly sounds ready for bass this Fall when temps have dropped for safe hauling of fingerlings.

If you are adding bass DYI, I think I'd go ahead and work at it over the Summer IF you are planning on putting in small ones. There has to be a food the right size for them when they go in, and you don't want it to be your initial stockers.

What kind of bass are you intending to stock?

I would like to try smally mouth but I dont think they will do well in my area so large mouth would be good, just not too many of them, I suppose.