Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations hsb raising over the winter

Is it possible to raise hsb in cages over the winter and get them from say 6-8 inches to 10 inches feeding with pellets?
I am worried 6-8 inch hsb will be expensive fish feed. I have already been down that road once.
thanks
docg

What size predators are in the pond ? Keep in mind that HSB are more active than LMB in cool water.

Hi Docg

This is a great question and your concerns are well founded. Good work considering this prior to stocking!

I assume your BOW has an existing population of LMB with a gape capable of hammering the 6-8" HSB fingerlings? I don't have the LMB to worry about myself, but many seasoned forum members can lend their guidance here [see everyone but me]. I have a couple immediate ideas for you though -

Grow the HSB out in cages to 10"+ before release [see Bill Cody]

Net off a portion of your pond and grow them out there [see Ewest project in Pond Boss Mag back issue]

Winter them indoors and if can get water temps to the level to stimulate feeding you can probably get a few inches of growth over the next few months. Depending on the qty of fish a couple 100G stock tanks should be plenty of room.

doc,
What is great about HSB is that you can grow them faster than any other fish in a cage! I dont know how much growth you can expect during the winter, but I would not be opposed to you trying to at least hold some over the winter in a cage to get a good jumpstart on next year as an experiment. You will never know until you try.

Here is a bit more info to consider: HSB may be a bit more active during the winter than LMB, but they do not haul very well in cold water. They fungus up and die. Also another thing to consider is if you havent successfully established HSB in the pond, it may not all be due to loss from predation. HSB for some reason or another just dont take to all bodies of water. Putting them in a cage is a great way to see how they transition to your pond.

Is there truly a difference if they are kept and fed by the supplier over the winter vs. putting them in your pond now? If not I would wait until spring. Just saying it could be another option.

Anyone know of a source for HSB fry to raise over the winter for Spring stocking? It seems that I have seen this topic on the forum before.

Dr Bob

I'm just asking because i really don't know, but wouldn't fry this time of year be the runts of the hatch if they are the hybrids that are produced in the spring? Would you want the slowest growing fish?

Of course whether there are multiple cohorts at production facilities with the spawn manipulated by by photoperiod change I don't know?

"there are multiple cohorts at production facilities with the spawn manipulated by by"

I think that is probably the case as many of them are produced by hatcheries in the south (AR).

Also, I thought there was (I don't think they are still raising HSB now) a facility in Ca. that spawned a huge amount of HSB every month for the restaurant trade RAS people.

I have found that HSB that are "carried over" by hatcheries in raceways until spring are stunted and in poor codition.
Find a hatchery that grows them out in ponds and they will be 8 inchers by late fall.

Experience is a great teacher.

Absolutely! I also learn the best from my failures. I seem to remember my failures better.

That is for sure - assuming you survive the initial event.