Originally posted by Theo Gallus: ...the number of Tilapia to stock in succeeding years is definitely something the intelligent pond/lake owner/manager would want to adjust based on previous experience.
Theo,
Perhaps you have seen the theory that one should not stock Tilapia because they will make your numbers of LMB increase and will also increase their size requiring that you must restock Tilapia every year or have a problem with oversized bass.
Their are two big problems with that theory, at least two. First, what is wrong with having lots of large LMB? Second, Tilapia, without question, substantially increased the BG population in each pond I stocked them in. In ponds that clearly were BG difficient and a pond that already had substantial BG, both benefited from Tilapia stocking with increased BG populations.
More BG means more forage and lessens the need for supplemental Tilapia stocking each year (and I might add artificial feeding ). I don't know yet where that sustaining balance lies, but intend to find out.
). I don't know yet where that sustaining balance lies, but intend to find out.
