Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose What to stock in 1.8 acre pond for trophy bass

I have a 1.8 acre pond in South GA that has just been rotenoned. Oxygen was an issue in a fish kill, so I have a vertex Air 2 on the way. What types of fish, #'s of fish, and times of year would you stock for a Trophy Bass Pond?? I also feed the fish every afternoon, fertilize, and have set out alot of structure (in all depths) and built (but still building) a nice rock pile. The pond is long (kinda a stretched out candycorn shape, if you will) with a small island near the center. Max depth is around 10-12 feet. Thanks for any input!

Dawghall,
you definitely want to get ahold of greg grimes for this along with the forum guys suggestions. Greg is near Atlanta, and I dont have clue where that is in relation to you, but I know he services all of Georgia. Anyhow if you truly want to do this right you will use the very best genetic bass possible and would get not only the best genetic bass, but have them feed trained to boot. Feeding the bass directly will really help you not only grow large bass, but you will be able to have quite a few more large bass than in your 1.8 acre pond. Greg will get you some more specific details.

nate

Get yourself a SOLID forage base established firstly. FHM, GSH, BG, etc. Wait until you can just about walk on top of them and stock your LMB. Aeration would help your biomass too, I believe, along with obtaining feed trained fish as Nate suggested. As a rule, fewer LMB, more forage will equate to at least the potential for a trophy LMB pond.

Thanks guys. I have already contacted Matt Morgan who works with Greg, and he gave me a great price on shad and crawfish for the spring (I'm on their list). I was just trying to get some numbers on Coppernose, Redear, Fatheads, and maybe a few grass carp to run across Matt for my more current needs. I will probably go with what they advise me to do

numbers for those other fish would depend on what size bass you are stocking, how many bass you are stocking, and when you are planning on stocking them. You really have lots of options depending on how much money you want to spend and how fast you want everything to happen.

Natural forage base is great in most situations, and is definitely icing on the cake, but i have grown some pretty darn big bass in small ponds on a diet of mainly fish food.

I am sure Matt and Greg will get a good feel for which management options will suit your preferences best, but there is more than one way to skin this cat and the major X factor is you, not the pond or fish.

If you really want to customize this pond down to the exact detail of stuff like who will be fishing, how often, how many BIG fish you want to have, how big you want them to be, how fast you want it to happen, and how much money you want to spend, etc. I would definitely get matt or greg out to the pond to help you come up with a complete game plan. You have so many more options than even what you can find on this amazing forum. There are many books and videos and dnr biologists out there with templates on how things can be done, but there are only a handful of guys out there who really can customize a trophy pond management plan specific to the person who owns and manages it.

I am only writing this stuff because I am under the impression you are looking to create something really special with this pond, way above just an average pond. The information to make a great fishing pond is here on the forum. The information to make a world class fishing pond specifically for you and your exact situation is only available by getting grimes or lusk to write you up a site specific blueprint after picking your brain for a bit. The pond stuff they would know with their eyes closed, but it would take a good hour of learning everything about you as possible to really get a feel for the perfect management plan.

Ditto what Nate said, especially on the feed trained LMB. You won't believe how fast they grow on pellets.

Thanks n8ly, I do plan on having the best pond possible but I don't have the deepest pockets either. Just from reading around I can see it is VERY expensive to have a near-perfect trophy bass pond. I would like to give it my best shot within my budget though. Thanks for the advice!

It can be very expensive, but doesnt have to be. Money often buys you time, labor, and a bit of forgiveness. The less money you want to spend than the more time you will have to wait and the more work you will have to personally do, and you want to get everything set up right the first time. If you are patient, and willing to do the work, and have a good plan, you really dont have to spend any money. As soon as you start compromising with those big three components is where your wallet comes into play.

If the budget is not unlimited, try to project what resources will be available for this project and incorporate that into your plan to maximize your dollar. Many things are beneficial, but not necessarily cost effective.

Well said Nate.

If it were me, and it's not, I would do exactly what Greg says.

Good info above. The new standard for southern trophy LMB ponds is 2000 BG per acre. I would suggest if you are using 2 inch LMB stockers no more than 60 per acre. If you are going to use 6 inch LMB stockers then 30 per acre. Greg and Matt know this as we have worked on ponds using these #s.

Thanks for the info everyone! I am thinking of using around 90 2 inch LMB stockers. A mix of F1 and Pure Fl's

less LMB per acre means more food for each individual fish. 1 lmb needs 10# of food to gain a pound.

Does 90 sound high to you for 1.8 acres? Fortunately, I have plenty of time to look at the numbers for the bass before they are actually stocked. It's forage fish time right now! It sounds like the more the merrier for a bass pond

Nope. Using ewest's numbers you could stock 108 providing your pond size is correct.

My choice is some Fla , some F-1s and some northerns.

ewest, do the northerns help if I am mainly focusing on large LMB? I know they will cross with the others (making them more aggressive, I assume), but is there another purpose for Northerns in a trophy LMB pond besides catchability.
esshup, I see what you are saying. 108 Lmb would be the highest total my pond would need. I'm fine with putting a little less and maybe getting even better results.

Yes IMO. Genetics. I want some Fla and some Northerns so they can keep creating first generation F-1s. Catchability is a big reason. Another is reducing risk of genetic outbreeding depression if it exhists. I doubt it does but some very smart biologists think it may. Also there is a common sense reason. It is widly thought that the world record LMB was an integrade.

Also a side issue. Male Flas are small when compared to female Flas and when compared to male northerns. With all Flas half your fish will be smaller than normal mixed populations. I have not seen any info on the relative success of small male Flas in competition with larger northern males for spawning sites and breeding success.

So if I have some first generation F1's coming along then I will create the new world record bass! Haha, that bass actually was caught about 90 miles east of my place, so there's a chance. Unless you were talking about that Jap's bass. Any idea what type of largemouth they have in Japan??

No I don't know that LMB's heritage.

Consider adding a few Hybrid Stripers. IMO more fight than a LMB and do not reproduce. Will take to feed.

BTW Go Dawgs tonight

Thanks Bill. No doubt, Go Dawgs!