Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Minimum dimensions for forage pond

I will try answer all the questions. Reask if I miss something or I am not clear.
1. 1-2 lbs should be plenty of broodstock of FHM or GS for a 0.05 ac pond (50x50).
2. Personally, I would not rely on draining to transfer most of the minnows to another pond. Many minnows will tend to congregate in the deepest pool water as the pond subsides. Thus IMO lots will get stranded in the little pool of water that remains after the pond is drained. I think you are better to drain down the pond to low pool and seine through it several times with a 1/8" or 3/16" mesh seine. Others with additional experience with pond seining should also provide input for this topic.
3. No need to separate sizes. I would Transfer all sizes you catch - depending on intensity of catching/trapping. If you return any, I would return some maybe not all of the breeder sizes. Depending on the species and method of capture, it is sometimes quite difficult to catch the breeders during spawning season due to they are busy spawning and are hard to catch.
4. There are numerous other forms of spawning devices and structures than tubes or pallets - depending on the species you are trying to raise. Maybe do a search for spawning devices or structures based on your species of interest. If you place the spawn structures in shallow water and drain down the pond abt 2-3 ft each time you do a "complete" seining you will not need to worry about removing spawn structures. For partial seinings during the summer just seine the deep areas of the pond. Arrange spawning structures with the planned capture methods in mind.
PS tubes and pallets are worthless for GS spawning.

Another one for the archives.

Bill, right after your book on SMB, then your one on YP, would you favor us with one focusing on forage pond construction and harvest/transfer?

Teeh, cody says - "I may not live that long".

What is the diameter of the PVC you are using for FHM reproduction and does it matter? I may have some one inch PVC lying around.

I just dug a small (13 ft. W X 14 ft L and max depth of 3.5 ft.)frog pond in order to protect some frogs and toads from the fish in our 0.2 acre pond. I also plan to use it to raise FHM for forage in the bigger pond.

I also have a pond liner question but will ask that elsewhere in this forum. Thank you for all the information. I don't have time to check your forum often but always find it to be helpful. I am a subscriber to the magazine and look at this as a huge bonus.

Here is a visual clue




More FH spawning ideas

If your pond contains predators, keep the spawning structure SHALLOW! Putting it in water deeper than a foot and preferable less than 6" is just asking for your FHM to be even more quickly eliminated than they already would be...

So what is the ideal depth to place structure for FHM if you have LMB, Crappie, HBG, CC already stocked?

Does the type of structure make a difference on the depth it is placed?

What is the best water, structure, plants etc. to get GSH to spawn?

SHALLOW! Less than a foot... 6"-12" would be about right. I've seen FHM spawning in 2" of water.


Depends on the purpose...


Not sure I completely understand what you are asking... best water? structure is not really related to GSH spawning. They spawn in relatively shallow areas usually over aqustic vegetation, FA etc. An easy way to boost their reproduction is to plant rye in the fall when water levels are lower. The rye grows in the fall, go dormant in the winter and then is flooded by spring rains, providing an ideal spawning area for your GSH.

Show should I keep all of my pallets and cinder blocks in the same area or should they be spread out across the pond?

I was wandering what kind of structure and water depth RES like so I can try to get them in one are of my pond in hopes to catch some of them out someday.

I may have to try and plant some rye if the water goes down enough for me to do so.

Thanks

Other than the spawning season, they'll be fairly deep. Usually 8 to 20 feet, depending on temps and DO concentrations. Any of the structures you see being sunk on here would work. Personally, I am more of a fan of natural structure. I think it encourages the food chain better, but that is just my opinion.