Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations 1st Year Bass Reproduction?

Hi my new pond was stocked with 2in tiger bass this past july. I will do some sampling this week to check sizes but I would expect the bass to be anywhere in the 8-12in range this upcoming spring.

The Question:

Will the bass spawn their first spring? Is bass spawning based upon age or size? From what I've read spawning begins the 2nd spring.

Any experience or info is greatly appreciated as it will help me plan for next year's management plan.

Thanks, Cuda

Tough to tell. Mine waited until the second year. But, I have a friend that got some limited reproduction in year one.

TAMU says 1 y.o. LMB that are up to 10" in length can spawn in Texas.

I don't know about the Tiger Bass hybrids in particular. However, if you have lots of forage they should really put on the weight their first year.

I would guess (total non-expert) that you should get at least some spawning next spring.

Maybe plan for that contingency for your management plans? If you don't see any YOY bass, then go to Plan B.

Are the tigers the only LMB in your pond?

@FishinRod

Thanks for the imput!

yes thats what I'm thinking that the larger growers might spawn this spring.

Yes the tigers are the only bass in the pond.

I'm planning to add some Pure Floridas this summer to enhance the gene pool. That's why low or no bass reproduction this spring will be ideal as I add more mouths to feed this summer.

If you are planning to add some pure Floridas next summer, they may eat some of your Tiger Bass yoy from the spawn this spring. (If the predator/prey sizes are aligned.)

I hope you are packing your pond with forage. It sounds like you should soon have lots of hungry and aggressive mouths to feed!

Good luck on developing an awesome LMB fishery.

@FishinRod Yes I hope I have enough to feed these guys. I stocked bluegill 30:1 and had a successful bluegill spawn so hopefuly that tides them over until I find additional forage options.

Thanks so much, hoping for that Big Bass Outcome

30 to 1 should give you at least 3 years before you have a shortage of BG for forage if unmanaged. If you have proper harvest, it could last a long time.

I stocked my LMB 2-4 inch fingerlings in May 2020 and they spawned the next year.