Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Threadfin in a new pond?

Has anyone ever stocked a small number of threadfins along with other forage fish before bass enter? Maybe stock them in the spring then add bass in fall, or a year later the next spring? Could you add some 3-4in Tshad the same spring you add 3-4in bass? If so please share.

More details about the pond (size, existing fish population, etc.) would help, but adding threadfins in the spring would definitely help them establish if they can get a few spawns in before the bass start feeding on them.

A 3-4" bass should not be able to swallow a 3-4" threadfin, but after that it is only a matter of time. Based on everything I've read and from my own limited experience, threadfins are a great addition in the south. In Oklahoma, they'll die off about 1 in 5 winters, IIRC from Bob's book "Raising Trophy Bass." I think 45 degrees +- is their limit.

Try this info from the archives.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=106122#Post106122

Davasta, I have heard it was around 42 as well and thanks for the info, I live right on the red river so I feel that they could live 3 or 4 of 5 winters. As far as the pond well it will be about 3acre +- when done. I just thought if I could find a way to get a couple hundred in early they may establish for a few years before I lose them to the cold. Just trying to save a few $$. Thanks.

ewest thanks for the link

I have also stocked them in my pond . I like their more slender bodies , looks like even when they get bigger a big bass can eat them . Looks like a big BG would be hard for a LMB to eat or even fit in its mouth . I need to find out how often they spawn and what the need for spawn area . Good luck with the project .

Can anyone provide any pictures of different shad ? A pond that i fish have shad and the all fins have a reddish tint to them . Is that a thread fin ? thanx as alwayz

Funny you should ask. Chris Steelman recently educated me on the difference between gizzard shad and threadfin shad (other than size). Namely, gizzard shad have a "nose" and threadfins do not.

See this thread:

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...true#Post125882

You can also search on google images for pictures of different types of shad.

It is fairly easy to tell the difference between Threadfin and Gizzard Shad. The bottom jaw on a Threadfin will be farther forward then the upper mouth. With Gizzard's, the upper mouth extends past the bottom jaw so it looks like they have a nose.

Thanks for all the info guys, but more than anything im wondering if it would be worthwhile for a pond with nothing but say fatheads and BG to add Tshad. Wondering stocking numbers and size of Tshad to add. Also what if X number of Tshad were stocked the same day as bass. Espically if the bass were about the same size. I just thought if I could get a few hundred in the pond before the bass I would not have to buy a few thousand later.

Any Ideas/ Comments appreciated.

jakeb all that is in those links. A pic is worth a 1000 words.



The key is enough plankton for them to eat and that the first offspring (not the stockers) get to adulthood and spawn.

jakeb, did not look over the link, but our preffered method is Oct-March bluegill/redear/fatheads/other forage(?) followed by half load of thredfin shad in May. Followed in June with 2 inch bass. This saves you about $600 vs. stocking later when you have bass established, requiring more shad.. This is about 2,500-3,000 adult size. However probably can get them established with far less numbers. I used to think this is a problem (traditional thinking) but the bluegill do just fine and we get establishement % much higher and saves clients money.