Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain GSH not doing well?

Last summer I stocked 2500 FHM and 500 GSH in two ponds connected via a culvert pipe, 1.3 acres total.

Ponds

There must be 10,000's of FHM, they seem to just keep spawning, I'm constantly seeing new ones.

The GSH on the other hand, I hardly see any, and I don't see any of size. When I stocked them, they were maybe 2". I have yet to see any over that size.

There are no other fish in the ponds yet.

Do the larger GSH not hang out near the shoreline?

After 1 year, would I not have some 4-5" GSH?

The GSH I do see are much smaller than the ones I put in, so they are definitely spawning, though I do not see them in any schools, they are normally alone, far and few between.

The FHM are doing great, the GSH are a dissappointment.

From what I've seen, FHM stick closer to shore, but adult GSH are more of an open water fish. They spawn on submerged grass in shallower water, but I've rarely seen adults (5"+) in water less than 3' deep.

Is there a way I could catch them with a rod & reel?

I'd like to make sure I have some bigger ones in there...

My Golden Shiners tend to be in the weeds in deeper water than the shoreline.

Sometimes, but not all the time, you can see them hitting pellet feed.

One of the best ways to catch them, without a cast net or trap, is to tie on a very small beadhead fly, kind of like a nymph. Put that on a small bobber so you can cast it. The shiner will only hold that in it's mouth for a split second, so you have to be quick to set the hook.

I've used half of a Stubby Steve's Pellet on a #10 Owner Mosquito Hook for the smaller ones, and a whole pellet for the larger ones. I'd slip an ice fishing float onto the line about 12"-18" above the hook, and pinch a very small split shot directly under the bobber. The bobber and split shot is a good strike indicator, and it also gives it a bit of weight to cast with an ultra-light spinning rod w/2# test line. Placing the split shot at the bobber allows the pellet to sink very slowly.

Right before the bobber hits the water, slow down the line coming off of the reel with your finger. That straightens out the line and the pellet lands farther from you than the bobber, minimizing any tangles.

In a lake in florida I noticed I would catch them off the shoreline just after sunset. Other than that I'm not sure how to target just the shiners.

I think the reason was that the shiners were leaving the open water to hide for the night.

Make yourself a minnow trap with a 2 inch opening,you can use plastic fencing, put in some beef liver or other food and leave it in overnight, if you have bigger GSH you'll catch some eventually.

What is the size of each pond?

Large pond is 1 acre, small is .33 acres.

To you happen to have the measurements of each and the easiest way to walk one out?

I am wanting to measure mine again and see if they happen to be a little larger than I have stated they are. (Or at least can hope they are bigger)


Thanks

Once again, the answer is in the archives. pond area

And, once again, for a rough calculation of the surface acreage - how big is my pond - if that's what you want to know, use the link to the site I gave you awhile back. Here it is again:

Pond Acreage Calculator

You've gotta use some of the advice and suggestions the folks here give you, mrhello, and you'll find you are able to start answering a lot of your own questions.

I didn't have a chance to fish for GSH yet, but my brother found a dead one that is 5" long. So I suess there are bigger ones in there.

GSH