Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Ideas for 1/2 acre pond in southeast texas

Kind of a bonus pond on our place. We have a 2 acre pond with a feeder, but on this one we're not setting up a feeder or aerator.

Pond is bowl shaped and about 8 feet at deepest. Will be filled with a solar powered pump from spring fed creek, so slight option for aeration there, and pond will be kept +- one foot.

Goal of the pond is some fish that don't require feed and won't require much money to upkeep as we go. Prefer self sustaining fishery, but I was also told this pond would be 3 acres when I was "consulted" with what to do with it...well 1/2 acre and 3 acres are different animals, as I'd preferred a classic CNBG/LMB pond.

Fish available easily are LMB/HSB/CC for predators, and CNBG, RES, GSH, FHM for bait. Fish truck does deliver option of HBG a couple times of year, but other fish are overtons/other trusted source.

I really hate HBG (they're just fugly to me and kind of a "so what" fish even when I've caught 1.5 lb fish), but I know CC/HBG is one good option for a small pond.

I was considering a GSH/FHM/RES/HSB pond where the only upkeep would be pretty cheap with just adding HSB. Thinking of stocking for 30 or so HSB. Would this provide enough forage for a "ladder" stocking of the predator, and is a somewhat shallow pond that is not aerated going to be able to sustain HSB? I've had good luck so far with HSB in our 2 acre, but is a about twice as deep.

I do have the ability to fish this pond regularly, so could I get away with CNBG/LMB and just manage the heck out of it?

Cool opportunity! No fish in the pond. Hmmm....I read in a thread today that Overtons may have Camelot Bell LMB fingerlings available next spring. Thought about maybe stocking Camelot Bell, CNBG and FHM? You could transfer CB to the 2 acre when they were big enough. After that, stock your normal LMB, HSB, or whatever you want and sit back.