Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Forage decision

80 acre lake with some deep waters, Central Alabama.

We are working on our 2025 lake budget and have a question on the bass forage portion. We don't have enough money to stock talipia and crawfish so a decision has to be made as to which one we need to go with.
Would some of you be willing to help us with the pros and cons in this stocking question?

Many Thanks!

Do you know how cold your lake typically gets each winter? I ask because if it gets cold enough, the tilapia may die off each winter and thus need to be restocked each year.

Bluegill are generally considered to be the backbone of bass forage, and they won't die off. Is there a reason that you are not considering bluegill, or perhaps you already have them in ample numbers?

How is the bluegill population there in the lake?

Sorry I didn't mention this, the bluegill population is excellent. We have eleven feeders to keep them fat and happy.

And yes our lake will get cold enough to kill the Tilapia.

That's where I was going - feeding the bluegill.

Tilapia - is there an algae problem? i.e. how is the food base for the tilapia?

Is there habitat for the crawfish? What is the bottom substrate like? What's the max depth of the lake?

I am assuming no aeration?

I'm gonna back up one level - why do you think you need/want more forage for bass?

I concur - why do you think you need more forage for the LMB?

Do you have some detailed monthly anger catch results of lengths and weights per hour of angling during the past year 2024? Or just some general angler opinions?

Does the lake have any fish harvest guidelines?

Do you know how many LMbass have been harvested in 2023 and 2024?

Have you had a recent electroshocking or a fish survey conducted?.