Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Rosy Red Minnow Source

Here is some info on my pond:


The number and size at stocking on December 4th 2009:

125 Hybrid Bluegill 1"-3"
100 Channel Catfish 4"-6"
25 Redear 1"-3"
25 Florida Hybrid Bass 2"-3"
25 Black Crappie 2"-3"
3 lbs Fathead Minnows



I am not sure what size they are now as I have not had a chance to get back over there to try it out.

What size should I expect to see if my pond is healthy?

I do not supplement feed.


Should any of them have spawned by now?

Thanks

How long would it take a FHM or GSH to reach adult and begine spawning?

See post #216918 in "sorting forage fish" thread.

GSH are adults around 5" and larger, and will spawn once a year once they reach that size in last Spring, early summer.

FHM can spawn at 3 months of age if the conditions and habitat are conductive to spawning.

When would be the best time of year to stock FHM or shiners?

I may be off here but I stocked mine in the early spring before things got to crazy and the fish started eating a lot. I would think late fall would be good also, late fall not fall. As depending where you live fall can be a very good time to catch fish. That water needs to start getting around 50 and the fish will start to go into there winter feeding pattern. IE by fish I mean LMB, GSF, BG, and such. Not sure about SMB and Trout eat best in colder weather. Hope this helps.

You can stock FH and GSH any time of year, but the current heat makes seining and transport a crapshoot on mortalities.

Depends on your goals... But early spring before the GSH spawn would be best if you are trying to get them established in your pond. If you are just stocking as a supplemental feed, then whenever you can get them is fine. FHM are pretty much the same, but their odds of establishing in a pond with predators is slim to none.

They would be stocked to try to get them established. I was just wondering if late fall, early winter would be better than early spring?

I was thinking they may be able to find out where all the cover and safe havens.

Why wouldn't they be able to find them in the spring... Instead they will be getting eaten late fall and all winter and early spring rather than just before they are ready to spawn.

That is why I am asking if it makes much difference or not. I am thinking they are done spawning this year. So may as wait untill March or April of next year to add them.

Does that seem like a good time?

March and April is to late. Your predator fish will have a field day with your forage. If you do this the spring I would say. Late Jan. Early Feb. You live close to me so our climates are close to the same. By first week of March the Bass are ready to eat almost anything!! If you do this in the fall here I would say do it around end of October mid November once its pretty cold as the fish will still eat but not near as much at that point as they are in there winter eating pattern and their motabolism is slowed way down.

I will keep that in mind.
Thanks

I tried that with some FHM, albeit in June, and three pounds of them were pretty much munched on the same day, I believe. Haven't seen one since and I even released them in an area of cover that I had put in just for them.

What size is your pond and how many other fish are in it?

I am not sure that matters much but just curious.

This was in my 1/2 acre pond. I have LMB and BG.

Yeah LMB in June will eat them FHM's up!! And even bigger BG will if the FHM is small enough. The colder the water the better. It will give your minnows a fighting chance anyway.

Last year they were put in December, but I still think none of them made it.

How many did you put in your pond? I put 10lbs in but I also put in 10lbs of GSH also. And about 70 4 inch blue gill. I have some very shallow water though too for them to get up in. And I have a bunch of chara for them to hide in. If you can do it again in December and double your amount or do 1 in a half times what you did.

I don't know of a single pond that has any kind of LMB population and FHM... Does anyone else on here know of a pond that has a self sustaining FHM population with LMB present? If you do please share your story. FHM are really for 3 purposes... 1)bait 2)good starter feed for a new pond 3) a quick snack for an established pond.