Copied from a prior thread.

Everyone should note that there are differences in stocking north to south. For example one successful method up north is to stock FH and LMB and then up to a year later stock BG. Another method is to stock 2 inch BG in summer followed by 2 year old LMB the next spring. These methods are not used in the south. In addition often the recommended stocking ratios are different as CJ noted. A review of the archive on State Agency manuals will help. http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=113216#Post113216

Here is a good example from the Penn. manual.


When small bass and bluegills of the

same age were stocked simultaneously in

Alabama, balanced populations always

resulted. When this stocking strategy

was followed in the North, the result

nearly always was a stunted bluegill

population and a bass population

unable to spawn successfully. Research

at Cornell University showed that to

achieve successful bass-bluegill populations

in northern states, the initial

stocking must consist of bass that are at

least 1 year older than the bluegills. This

can be achieved by stocking yearling

bass 1 year ahead of yearling bluegills or

combining 2-year-old bass (over 6

inches) with yearling bluegills less than

2 inches long. Researchers currently

believe that the proper number of

fingerling fish to stock is 100 bass and

200 to 500 bluegills per surface acre.

This stocking strategy has been shown

to be successful in Pennsylvania ponds.