Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Stocking Threadfin

I am considering introducing Tshad to my 3acre pond. I have found a fishery that will sell one tank of shad for 400.00. This, of course is not a full load. I have found prices ranging from 1600.00 to 1900.00 for a full load of Tshad.

I spoke to the fishery offering the short load of shad. He told me that he did not recommend stocking a small pond with anything less than a full load of shad. He said, chances are, the shad won't last long in a small impoundment. They will be eaten before having a chance to establish themselves. He said the short load was much more successful in larger impoundments.

My question is: Is this just salesmanship or does this argument have merit? Is it worth stocking my pond with a quarter load vs. a full load? I certainly don't want to flush 400.00 bucks right down a largemouths gullet.

TShad info threads. They should answer your questions. What is in the pond now and what sizes and #s ?

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...c2a4#Post106122 Archives on TShad

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...=true#Post88121

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthread...true#Post119912

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=90319&fpart=1

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=25747&fpart=1

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=18993&fpart=1

No shad in the pond now. Bass, bream mainly. Largest bass size is in the 2lb range recovering from a stunted bass population. Lots of smaller bass in the 9-11 in range.

I also stocked Tilapia last year and will do so again this year.

Not an expert by any means, but I had a nearly identical situation to what you describe, stunted LMB/BG pond in recovery, to which I added a full load of shad two years ago, as well as tilapia. The shad certainly took hold and did well thru last year, we've had a lot of cold weather this winter and I know for certain I lost some to the cold.

I don't think it would be wasted money to try a 1/4 load, put in in April before they spawn, especially if you really drop the hammer on the small bass for a month or so prior. I removed about 40# just before stocking, I think this helped.

PM me and I can suggest a supplier with some larger broodstock.

Are you talking to Davis Fish Farm. If so good guys with good fish.

I believe you will flush $400. We have againist my better judgement done a 1/2 load ~2,000 sexually mature size ( >1.5 inches) and not once have we got it to work in established lake with bass.

In a new pond with no bass I think your good to go with 500 shad. With bass 1/4 load a waste, expensive one tiem snack. You woudl be better to hold you money until you could afford a full load. I can do that for you for $1,200 btw.

Also yes our expereince shows easier to establish on 4-10 acres with one laod than anything smaller. Not enough open water to "hide" from bass. Good luck!

Greg the difference in this case is the addition of tilapia. That should take the pressure off the TShad. The question is will the TShad offspring last until the tilapia can start spawning.

Greg have you tried to get the TShad started with tilapia ?

What about getting a half load in the fall just before they spawn and the tilapia start dieing ? Often the TShad born in the spring will spawn that fall. See if your supplier can do that. I think you would have a much better chance of this working with a half load.

Ewest good point. Yes in SC bopth but establish with normal full load.

It might help but doubt it for two reasons. In the past (8 years ago) when we got shad from other sources establishment was poor. Their load was 10,000 but small thumbnail size shad. Later it was larger but in late spring after spawn. In either case establishemnt was poor.

Key is shad mature size in enough numbers to survivie intitial predation right when ready to spawn.

So this means he could delay stocking a 1/4-1/2 load until May when tilapia are stocked but then they would have already spawned or stock late March through late APril when ready spawn but then they would have to make it until tilapia spawn in late May. Either case i feel they are gone. THe bass predation I think is immediate within days of stocking.

So fall is worth trying when tilapia numbers are at thier highest. This might work to get away with less stokcing numbers. The fall spawning is not as predicatble as the spring but worth a try. If tyring this I would also put the hamemr down if having a stunted bass population and takeout as many as possible and have the lake very fertilie at the time of stocking.