Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking Gaspergou in a pond?

I've a friend who has put 2-3 gaspergou in a pond. Had never heard of anyone stocking a pond with gaspergou and was wondering will they be able to reproduce in a pond?
Will they be able to survive when pond gets low (3-4') in summer?
Anyone had any experience or advice/predictions about these fish in a pond?

Are there any freshwater drum experts?

My experience with freshwater drum/gaspergou/sheepshead or whatever you want to call them is not exactly the situation you are asking about, but I can tell you what I know. This past summer I collected them electrofishing in several shallow oxbow lakes in Mississippi. Several of the lakes were in the 10 to 30 acre range with maximum depths of 2 to 3 feet and nearly all of them had drum. One 20 acre lake has not connected to the river since 1972, had a maximum depth of a little less than 2 feet and was experiencing frequent low oxygen conditions, but still contained drum.
I can't say for sure that the drum were reproducing, but since the river hasn't connected to the lake in so long the only way drum would still be in the lake is if they were reproducing or people were stocking them in there. Stocking seems doubtful especially when considering the fact that we found a wide range of sizes of drum, which would require multiple stockings.
I am far from being an expert on freshwater drum, but I hope this helps.

There was a discussion about drum a long time ago. Maybe someone can remember something about it. It may have even been on one of the previous forums. Wish I could remember something about it but can't.

scotjute, we have freshwater drum in our lake and I love them. However, we are much further north (SD) than you. Ours are a strictly nonbreeding population. Things could be very different in your situation. We would love to hear how things work out for you.

I think goo are 1 of those fish that need "changing water" to stimulate them to spawn. In other words, if your pond is clear and unchanging year around, I think they would tend not to spawn. If you have a big rain in spawning season that muddies and raises the pond level, it could help stimulate them to spawn. I believe 2 other fish are in that category: Crappie and blue cat. It's all speculation and voodoo on my part, but that's what I think.

Personally, I wonder what impact goo would have on a pond. I don't know much about their feeding habits or their niche in the ecosystem. Does anyone?

The only additional info I found on them was the following :
1. they spawn in open water (whatever that meant)and the eggs are left floating near the surface.
2. they tend to root on the bottom looking for crayfish,aquatic insects, mollusks (including Zebra mussels), small fish, etc.
3. they range from the Hudson Bay down to Guatemala.