mnfish - I think you have a good start and interesting plan.
CJBS is concerned if YP can produce enough small YP to keep WE fed. YP can definately produce enough to feed WE it depends on how many WE are in the pond. There is a definate upper limit where WE will overeat the forage fish. That limit is??? and it all depends.
mnfish- I think your WE stocking rate in main pond (Hubert) was a little high unless you add extra amounts of FHM during the first year. 2nd yr YP fingerlings will provide added forage. Thus your 40WE/ac could be maintained with large supplimental FHM stockings. Plan on the first year for each walleye (assuming 38-40 survivors) to eat 6-10 lbs of FHM (225-300 lbs) for optimum WE growth to 11"-13" by fall 2009. This does not account for 400 stocker 4"-6" YP eating minnows which they will do. YP numbers will also consume quite a few FHM and WE or YP may have to be thinned regularly so every one grows well based on how many minnows are added annually. If you had a YP spawn this spring (2009)then those YOY YP will help feed the WE their fish ration for 2009. With limited food expect WE at end of 2009 to be 8"-9".
It will be interesting to compare WE growth in Grow out pond to main pond.
IMO you should be stocking/transfering FHM 3 to 4 times per year to main pond rather than once. Reason being this tends to spread out the abundance and size distribution of FHM. Transfers will result in all sizes of FHM introduced. I expected certain sizes to be eaten first leaving behind less than optimum sizes. I suspect Predators will initially gorge on FHM and not use the food as efficiently compared to several FHM introductions. Maybe not? Just my opinion/feeling.
There are pros and cons of adding GSH to the main pond. Main pro is diversity of food base. Main con is bait stealing and pesty nature when small live baitfishing for YP.
Depending on harvest rate WE should be stocked annually or every 2 yrs to maintain a good year class/size distribution.
I have found that WE do tend to prey on size oriented forage (if common and available) depending on the size of WE. FHM is not efficient food for WE that are greater than 20". Generally I expect the WE (14"-16") to prey on larger FHM (2.5"+) and YP to eat smaller (1/5"-2")FHM.
Angling could be a relatively good way to sample the WE and YP. WE will be a little harder to catch than YP due to density differences and willingness to bite issues.
The trap nets are fairly expensive and they can be built yourself using some softer style plastic fencing netting from Menards and a PVC pipe frame. Basically you need a box with a funnel or V shape end and a couple wing leads to direct the fish into the funnel. Search trap nets or hoop nets for design examples.
For those interested FHM cannot or have a very difficult time maintaining themselves for very long (>2-3yrs) in a pond with just YP. Abundant YP of various sizes exert too much predation pressure on all sizes of FHM. At least that is what has occured in a few ponds here in NW OH.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 06/17/12 04:17 PM.
