Originally posted by Hizzoner:
... with those choices and using one or all of those types would produce the best results with least effort in maintenance. Please include all forage as well. THanks for all the help.
Hizzoner,
Its hard to follow those funny posts above, but I'll try to throw out some thoughts...
First, crappie. There are indicators that your chances of having a successful crappie fishery, i.e. one that does not take over the entire pond, are better with your size pond than with smaller ones, but perhaps not good enough. You stated "least effort in maintenance" and from everything I can tell and from neighbors who have them, crappie are HIGH maintenance in small ponds, very HIGH.
Second, black bass...I'll use the term LMB to respond. Not sure of the geo region you are in but you might want to consider the F1 LMB. It has some terrific characteristics that put it above the native LMB and Florida LMB, IMO. However, while much less maintanance than a crappie, they do require some management to make sure they do not overpopulate and stunt, i.e. assuming you want larger LMB. If lots of small ones are ok, then no management at all. I've had those ponds over the years and they are a blast with catching 1 pound LMB on every cast...a blast. That kind of management can be more fun than work.
Okay, SB. I'm not aware of any successful pond fishery with SB, but there probably are some. HSB can be very successful in ponds as long as you are willing to throw the artificial feed at them....the more you feed the larger they get. Feeding is considered a maintenance activity by me....and a very expensive one and potentially harmful to the long term health of the pond depending on how you deal with it(the more artificial feed you introduce the more waste products you have to deal with). Good feeders that are needed for HSB cost upwards of $400 and the high protein feed is also expensive, over $20 per bag in my area. HSB are a very fun fish to catch and great eating, but may experience high angling mortality in hot temperatures, i.e. over 81 degrees
Next, sand bass. Don't know of anyone with them in ponds, but have heard that they will survive, but not reproduce. A marginal choice at best for a small pond....much better choices are available.
CC...I'm not a cat guy personally so will pass on commenting on them except to say if you are after eating and fun to catch, the HSB is a far better "catfish" choice, IMO.
So, what about a combo program that emphasizes low maintenance but good fishing? My thoughts are, again assuming a souther geo, F1 LMB as the primary predator with a few HSB to eat and enjoy, CNBG as the primary year-around forage fish but supplemented by Tilapia during the growing season. Tilapia will do most of the pond maintenance for you...and without chemicals. Other forage would include fathead minnows to get things off to a good start and Gambusia to keep things going great on the low end of the food chain. Add one or two grass carp per acre, and you have a virtually maintenance free pond. It will self-sustain and will balance (except for the HSB which must be fed to achieve good weight gains) naturally if you stock it right to begin with.
One other forage item to consider would be threadfin shad and much later, after the predators have reached larger sizes, gizzard shad. It sounds like you have a pond with sufficient large areas of deep water for the shad to overwinter and again depending on geo area, that would make you a good candidate establishing a threadfin population.
There are an infinite number of combinations of fish you can choose for your pond. This decision is one of the most important ones you will make as far as meeting your objectives for the pond. I would encourage you to read everything you can and make the best informed decision you can, but make the decision for yourself(and family)based on your pond objectives and not what others, who may have different motives and objectives, may advise you to do. Good luck and enjoy the journey.
