Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations An Awful day at the pond.

I think it's feasible they were hammered, especially considering their pelagic nature. Imagine a school of 6" HSB out in the middle of the lake, no cover, high sun silhouetting them - field day for the LMB. I'm not trying to be a pessimist, and I am rooting for your HSB survival!

My point is supplemental stocking of ANYTHING in a fishery with an existing population of LMB seems a difficult and expensive process. One has to stock advanced fingerlings or adult fish to help ensure their survival considering the gape of the LMB.

I would like to come out and spend some time at your place and check out your potential 2 acre experimental pond. I understand your fishery is dominated by BH - is that because there's a live creek feeding it or they were accidentally introduced? If you can prevent that from happening in the future I'd recommend draining and seining or even rotenone. Once they're gone you could stock YOY BG, SMB, YP, HSB...whatever you want and employ an aggressive pellet program. I think you could see remarkable growth in two years - definitely large enough to stock into the main lake. I know Bruce has grown CSBGs to 8" in 21 mos...Just a thought for a grow out pond - sounds cool.