Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Winter kill

At first I was about 99% sure my pond/fish fell victim to the 07-08 winter and it's ice cover. Last weekend I discovered what I think were 2-3 BG nests. Now I face what I think is a more difficult decision than if it had been a 100% kill. I suppose I will need to add larger everything (BG, LMB, & CC). I haven't contacted a hatchery or fish farm.

For conversation is there any advise you might have for choosing a size of fish for a pond that had been stocked for 6 yrs prior to this kill?

Thanks!
FH

The question is what is left in the pond. That is where you should focus you survey efforts. There are alternative stocking methods but you need to know what is there to decide how to move forward.

Unless you DID NOT want to restock with BG, look at the sunny side of the street. Your forage base is starting to re-establish itself, and protectively fill up niches that could have gone to rough fish.

I'll be watching closely for more nests and actual fish in the coming weeks, but wonder how I'll be able to get an accurate estimate (Oxymoron) :).

My pond is 2.5 acres, average depth of 10' - 12', what should I use for a rate of LMB.

Fishhead - if your bluegill are spawning, I'd sure like to be certain there was some predation on the little bluegills. Our typical "corrective" stocking for largemouth bass is something like 40 per acre of 8-12 inch LMB. If you can find a supply, I'd sure encourage you to stock yearling LMB, rather than this year's hatch. In the north country, we don't want the bluegills to get ahead of the predators. I know the southern folks like lots of prey for their LMB, but I'm a little more conservative.

Dave, point taken. I may be able to catch some and haven't exhausted all the area hatcheries but one of them also suffered a winter kill and only have available, later this year, 3-4" fish. I try a few more tomorrow.

FH