Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose New Pond...same old question...stocking

This is my first post though I have read through most of information here and its all excellent..My situation is I have a new pond that is approx 3/4 acre in size..I dont want to rush this fish stocking but what about stocking rates using different size fish? I am planning on putting in BG, Redear, fatheads, and LMB..I am in south Texas east of San Antonio...My rates are 600
BG, 150 Redear and 50-75 LMB..I was thinking of putting in half the forage fish as 2-3 inchers and and half as 4-5 now ..then in May add LMB...2/3 2-3 inches, 1/3 4-6 inches and throw in 6-8 10-12inchers...hoping to start fishing a little earlier? any advice is appreciated...

I hope ewest jumps in here. I think it was he who advocated the staggered size forage theory. It makes perfect sense. I think it allows for better size structure and distribution of the forage species, and seemingly an accelerated angling schedule.

Ewest? Are you there?

A thousand welcomes, jeffh. Glad you've read through a lot of the information. There's tons of good stuff on this forum.

Yep I am here.

jeffh welcome to the PB forum. I have used different size fish for stocking and growout purposes. I think it is a good idea for a number of reasons. But those reasons/conditions have to exist and you have to do it in a manner that is sound. I know that Bob Lusk has done so one some occasions where his client wanted an instant fishery and also on Richmond Mill Lake and others as a supplemental stocking event. I am fairly sure Todd and George use a bunch of larger fish for different purposes.

One thing that is key is to know for a fact that the fish are available and yours. You can't have a part of the program become a missing link because the fish are gone or aren't available. timing and knowledge of what you are getting is important.

When you use larger fish the stocking numbers go down but the cost per fish goes up.

You need to have some idea of what carrying capacity you will have. Is the water fertile or not , will you feed or not and how is the water quality.

Your fishing/pond goals are the first consideration.

A key to keep in mind is the size and productivity of the forage base vs. the predator numbers. For example it makes little sense to stock 2-3 and 4-5 in BG in April/May if you are right after that (June) going to stock 12in LMB. The forage base has to be able to survive and establish a sound basis first. I like to have at least one size of BG/forage too large to be preyed upon. For example if you are stocking 10in LMB some of the BG need to be adults (6-8in) and be put in March/April (pre-spawn) followed in June by the LMB. There are a lot of ways and methods which we can go over.

A common method for us is to stock a new pond with FH first, followed in early March with 80% of our $ in 2in BG/RES and 20% of our $ in 3-5in BG/RES , followed in June with 2in LMB at 50 % of the normal rate and 4-6in LMB in Sept at 15 per acre. I like to start out understocked on LMB.

That's a great post, ewest. That should be archived in some way.

ewest, your post and others like it is exactly why I send every one I talk to to this forum.
Thank you!

You guys/gals are to kind. Just trying to help a fellow ponder on the journey.

Thanks for the information...I am trying to be patient with stocking but I wanted to wet a line asap..I'll check with the supplier about the different size fish...the pond is not yet full but I do plan on feeding the forage fish...that sounds like a great plan and I do appreciate it..this is a great site for us newbies...I'm just trying to get a good largemouth population established...not too much into really big bass..just like to wet a line and catch a bunch of fish and an occasional lunker....thanks again...

Another consideration is that the biggest predator of small bass is larger bass (Ewest told me so I know it's true). The 10 to 12 inchers will do a number on your smaller size stocker bass. I believe I would forego the larger bass. You really won't need them.

True - 4-6 in LMB don't last long around 12in LMB and nither do 3-4in BG.

I thought about that as well but in the normal balance of things...won't these larger bass eat the young anyway?? What keeps other different age bass from being eaten by the older bass? I just figured with a few 10-12 inchers would give me jump start on the fishing..and not harm the balance in the long run..I sure understand what your saying..and appreciate your input....

It is a #s game. I read once where less than 1% of LMB spawned reach 1yr of age. You can work with large #s of fish and small survival % when you have a full pond and an established fishery. But that won't work in small stocking #s unless you are going to spend a lot of money on constantly stocking and restocking fish. A high % of the first fish stocked into a pond have to survive to establish a sound base to work from. It is not the first fish in that are forage it is their offspring. That is the reason for stocking larger BG -- so that they will be brood stock and not eaten.

That makes a lot of sense..Thanks ewest for your input as well as the others...Thats what I will do...stagger the fish the best I can and leave out the big ones...and be patient knowing in the long run it will be worth it..looking forward to this site and all the great input from you experienced guys...the magazine has been a great help as well...