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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 131
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 131 |
Well TJ it's by accident that I arrived at my current position, but probably for the best.
The pond these fish currently reside in had a predator heavy population. This included CC (30 lbs) LMB (20 lbs) Crappie (5-10 lbs)and SMB (5-10 lbs) in a .60-.70 acre pond.
When we took possession of the pond in 2008 the pond was filled with what I thought was BG. The fish were some what stunted averaging 3-5". The reason I added the CC, LMB and SMB in the first place was to balance the population and just like everyone else, I wanted Big Bass.
Well then I discovered Pond Boss and realized that my BG were not exactly BG. I had a mix of HBG, GSF, BG and PKSD(Pumpkinseed). My population analysis discovered that I had virtually no fish under 3" to feed my new predator additions.
So I culled all the Crappie and fed the fish 150 lbs of Aquamax last year. I also added 200-250 PKSD fingerlings out of a small forage pond a mile down the road as well as about 4 lbs of assorted wild minnows (Bluntnose Minnows, Shiners and FHM) from the same pond. By last fall my LMB had doubled in size and half of them were taking feed. I had quelled the hungry CC w/ pellets and I finally had YOY forage in the pond.
Over the winter the pond went through a hard freeze. I wasn't worried because the pond was spring fed and I survived last winter without aeration. However I failed to realize that I had doubled or perhaps tripled the biomass of the pond putting me on the fence for a DO crash.
Come April I lost everything except my minnows, two or three dozen 6-9" LMB and SMB, an army of PKSD (Fingerlings to 7") and a few larger HBG, and somehow 10-20 5" Bullhead Catfish.
So for now my pond is awash in forage. I plan on managing the forage exclusively for a year or two until the forage is so plentiful that I can walk across my pond. Then I will add some YP and SMB and raise some biggin's.
Right now I need to know which one of the minnow species is thriving and figure out how to support them...
TJ if you have made it this far I know you are really busy so when you get some time send me a PM.

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