Good afternoon everyone. The last few seasons of my fish managment hobby have been very challenging to say the least and I'm looking for any suggestions that may aid in the success of my next project. I lost all my game fish to winter kill in the main pond last winter and with a pond full of FH minnows, leapord frogs, snails, crayfish, and such I will be trying something new (to me at least).

Goal: Create and maintain a "balanced" pond that will produce YP (10" or greater)with the use of WE and supplemental feeding.

Background: The main pond (Hubert), which is a dug out pond, is a little over 1 acre. It was constructed years ago in a wetland setting and is a very diverse pond environment. In past seasons, I had good success growing BG, LMB,CC, and BC until I learned the killing power of organic soil. This is the pond that I wish to grow the YP. The upper pond (Grow out), which is also a dug out, is a 1/4 acre. It was constructed just last season and has been stocked with BG and FH minnows. This pond will be used to grow out walleyes that will be placed into Hubert once they reach a size between 8-12". Both ponds are aerated. Hubert with wind and Grow Out by solar. The third pond (Delta),which is approximately 1.5 acres, will be used to grow FH minnows.

My Approach: Use supplemental feeding both minnows and pellts, along with WE predation, to grow large YP in Hubert. I would use the Delta to produce FH minnows. Once a seaon, probably in the fall, trap the FH's out of the Delta and transfer them into Hubert. I belive 100-120lbs of FH minnow production is attainable. I would use the WE to "regulate" the YP and harvest any WE once it reached 14" in length. I would also pellet feed the YP. Every season I would stock WE fingerlings into the 1/4" pond for grow out. Depending on the "balance" in Hubert, replace or add WE as needed from Grow Out.

Currently: Hubert was stocked with 400 YP (4-6") along with 40 6-8" WE this spring.
Grow Out is stocked with BG and FH minnows all seems to be doing well. I will be stocking 20-30 WE this fall. Delta is doing well assuming it evers rain here again.

If a little knowledge is dangerous, I should be considered a nuclear weapon. Am I completly nuts or can this work. All input especially what hasn't worked would be much appreciated.
Finally, if this total fails, no worries, I can go back to what worked before. Man I love experimentation