Hey guys, new poster here. I spend quite a bit of time reading the stuff on here but I wanted to get some case-specific questions. I haven't moved onto the property yet so I can't give specifics on fish populations but I have a few buddies who have fished the pond for a few years and I have a decent idea of the populations. Rundown on the pond:
3/4 acre with LB, BG, and Grass Carp in it. I wouldn't be surprised if a few "crap fish" were in it also but I don't think it is anything overwhelming. Has a small sandy beach area on one side and a couple downed trees on the other. The LB seem to have decent size and numbers but the BG seem to be a little rare, with a few decent sized ones in there.
I would prefer the "natural" food way in the pond. Meaning I don't want to buy food because I am in college and won't be there for the whole year to keep the feeding consistent. I have some pretty good resources nearby to build a good forage base to continue the growth of a good bass population. I have a run of streams where I go past 4-5 in a 3 miles stretch and they are loaded with minnows. I was planning on trapping these streams and hand-sorting species that I don't want (time is something I have plenty of this summer). What species should I be removing? I have trapped these streams before to catch bait and I know that Shiners, Creek Chubs, Stonerollers, and another brightly colored minnow I cannot identify for certain (I believe it is the Pearl Dace) are the main species. Will any of these winter in a small pond? Would it be a good idea to invest in some Golden Shiners or FHM?
Also, has anyone tried using Florida or Florida Hybrids this far north? I have heard cases where people said they did not handl the winters especially well. Would it be worth stocking a few larger ones and removing some of the bass already in the pond in an effort to raise the genetics? I think I better quit here before this post gets way too long.
