Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose First Pond 3 acer + or -

The pond may go large but not by much, we are looking at 10 feet+ depth for the majority of the pond.
We haven't got the dam built yet but I am looking at my stocking options. The state fishery's division has stopped stocking ponds in FY10. So now I am going to have to buy from a hatchery. I am a huge bass fan and would love to be able to grow some large bass in the pond.

My thoughts are Fl strain if i can find them
Bluegills and Coppernoses
But do i need shiners?
What about algea eaters?

So any of you guys have suggestions?

You don't need shiners. Fathead minnows would be good to stock initially though they likely will all get eaten by the bass; but they'll give your bass a good start.

Tiger bass would be excellent to stock in your area; I've read multiple accounts of pond owners in your state who have had them grow three pounds or more a year; some of them are catching ten-pound bass that are three years old, according to what those pond owners are saying.

Coppernose bluegill do great in your state and would get very large (two pounds or better) if fed by an automatic feeder.

You can stock shiners if bass are your sole focus and you don't care about the size of your bluegill; in that eventuality, you could also stock threadfin shad, and gizzard shad after a year or two. Any of these three species will compete with bluegill for food, so if you like big bluegill don't stock them as your bluegill will be a fraction of the size they would without those species present. But if bass are where it begins and ends for you, you would get some benefit for the bass from stocking GSH, threadfin, and after a year or two so the bass are big enough to eat them before they overrun the pond, gizzard shad.

In my pond, I have a large population of golden shiners and plenty of big fat bluegill. The pond is slightly on the bass heavy side.

Yea I found these guys http://www.sepond.com the guy I talk to out of auburn was extremly helpful.

Looks like f1's BG some shellcrackers and fatheads

If you're gonna use fatheads, be sure to put in some approptiae structure for their spawning. I have two wooden pallets fixed together and slightly weighted down with cinder blocks, so they (FH) have a flat surface to hold their spawn. I put three of these 'spawning pallets' in my 3/4 A. pond. They went nuts. They will spawn 'several' times and get your forage built up for your LMB.

Do you feed, Weiss?

Just throwing this out there, but what about tilapia? I think you're right at the bubble where they'd be able to thrive year round. I bring it up because I'm very jealous of those below that 55 degree line.

kanima we service that area if you want a second opinion/bid on stocking I can flip you a plan. It is amazing what we can do with bass growth if stocked properly. First is a clear understanding of your goals then a plan to match those goals. Good luck.

For a LMB pond forget GShad unless a high % ( 25 %)of your LMB are over 18 inches long and are in good condition. If you use TShad don't use GShad. If you are in the North 2/3 of Ala then tilapia will do well (winter die-off with no over crowding).

Just a little catfish pellet when I'm out at the place.

Take Greg's advice, he is the man when it comes to growing huge bass...

Golden Shiners are great for LMB and I will have them in my pond if I ever get it dug. Minnows will not all get eaten if you have some areas of shallow water all filled with plants for them to hide in.