Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking White Crappie vs Blacks

I've never had to pay for a fish to put into my pond because, I always get them from other ponds and they've always seemed to do well. I know alot of the moderators are probly sick of hearing this but, I'm going to throw it out there anyways. I can only find white crappie for my pond, not blacks. So dose anyone realy think there is that big of a deal stocking the whites instead of the blacks? I have read lots of the threads on crapie and I don't want to get anyones feathers ruffled by posting this but , I am very curious on some input. The white crappie that I stocked are all 6-10''. I just can't see myself paying for fish when I can get them for free and at the same time enjoy myself fishing. The pond that we've been stocking is a half acre pond with large mouth bass, bluegill, perch, and channel cats. The pond is 16' deep and areated. Dose anyone have any idea how many white crappie should be added to the pond? I add fathead minnows weekly to the pond that I also get from another pond for free. I would say probly 2 -3 pounds weekly. The fish will deffinitly have plenty to eat. I figure I'll give it a try and if it works it works and if it goes bad Ill just start over..

I don't think there is a LOT of difference between black and white crappie. When you are on the edge of disaster, I suppose any improvement the black supposedly offer can be helpful. If you religiously do corrective fishing in a small pond, I don't think it matters that much.

Adding fish from another pond is a questionable practice with bream, because undesirable crossbreeding is so common. However crappie don't present that problem. I've even read somewhere that black/white crosses can produce some big robust fish.

Thanks for the input, the pond that I get the White crappie from produces some realy big ones. I've pulled plenty of 12-14'' out of it. I normally keep all the big ones for fishfry and throw the smaller ones in my pond or back in the water they come from. How many would you add in a half acre pond if you were to add any at all? Another question I have is 2-3 pounds of fatheads to many to add weekly? The fish in my pond are all fat..lol

Kristoffer - we typically recommend blacks over whites for ponds because blacks seem to do better on a zooplankton/insect diet than whites. Whites seem to do better, especially at those 12 inch and longer sizes, when they have some fish prey. However, every time we generalize, we find exceptions, so that's probably why no one is making strong statements.

So, this really brings up the question of the fish community in that pond with 12 to 14 inch whites. I'd really like to know more about that one!

This pond is probly 6-7 acres. Lots of structure but, only 1 acre with depth 6-7 feet. the rest of it is 3-4 ' max depth. Some of the fish that I've pulled out of there are so impresive that I can't believe it.It's a damed off area by beaver that is actualy a creek, and I'll tell ya the fishing is great. Some of my buddys go with me fishing and there calling early in the morning to make sure I didn't leave them behind. I fish with fathead minnows almost 100% of the time and my buddy fishes only artifishal and we both seem to always limit out. Some of these ponds up here in NY will definitly surprize ya.

Dave, if you give me your e mail I'll send you some pics of the keepers.. I tried useing the photobucket and it never seemed to work so I would apreciate it. My pond is very nice but, trying to send a pic never seemed to work for me.Bill Cody tried helping me but, I guss I'am to dumb to figure it out.lol

Kristoffer - you can get my email from the email icon on my message. Here it is as well. [email protected]

Actually, when I want a picture posted on the forum, I send it to Ewest and he takes care of it for me.

will do buddy

Try this link to a prior thread on the subject.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000402#000002