Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Golden Shiners or bluegills

For what it is worth our approach to stocking forage fish into an existing adult LMB population (which has worked for us) is as follows :

1 Reduce LMB population by 30 % by removal and add cover like xmas trees or thick brush for BG hiding around shallows where BG stay.

2 For each LMB adult 1yr. + (over 6in.) in late Feb-March add 10 adult BG in spawning condition.

3 Add 25 2in. BG/RES mix for each 1yr. + LMB same time.

4 Same time add any other forage fish (GShiners).

5 In Oct. following add 10 3-5 in. BG per each adult LMB 6in. +.

6 Keep culling LMB as needed.

7 Supp. feeding for BG.

These added forage fish are added behind a blocking net for at least 2 weeks for adjustment to a predator filled pond. This is the program we have used successfully in our southern ponds. One of the northern guys will have to comment on if it would work up north.