Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Stock a Maine Pond

OK You guys. Need suggestions about the Northeast. My previous posts where all about a buddy's 90 acre lake in Birmingham AL. BUT...I live in Maine currently. Don't ask why.

I was at neighbor's party yesterday and we discussed his 1/3-acre pond. It was built for a daughters horse. The horse is gone and the pond was drained and dug out to about 10 ft.

He wants me to catch and put bass in the pond. The pond is full of water but no fish. I told him that a bass would need something to eat. So, what should I do? By the way, the state of Maine calls Bream an exotic fish. There are pumpkinseeds to be caught. Trout can be bought, but will die in this little pond in the summer, or so has been his experience in the past but this was before digging out.

Catch Creek Chubs? Any suggestions? He is willing to feed but Maine will ticket you if you get caught with bream, crappie, bass (to stock) so we are kind of stuck without a good stocking option other than local angling and release into the pond. Which is most likely going to be a disaster.

I have found out that you can't catch and release into your pond from the wild's of Maine.

I can buy shiners and know of a guy with a pond that is overstocked with bass (I think he will give me some bass). He has the same problem I'd like to avoid for my neighbor, which is no food for bass. But, I think that the shinners will quickly get consumed and they are pricey. Even if allowed to grow all summer and spawn, the bass will, I think clear them out.

I am only thinking of 10 6in bass for this pond.

I really need a good forage fish for this pond!!!!

You should probably call the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and ask to speak to a fisheries biologist. They should be able to tell you what the common forage fish is in your area. You might also check their web page to find out where to call or to find the answers you are seeking. In my opinion, there is no substitute for talking with an expert familiar with your region of the country.

Agreed. I have an e-mail out to a State Biologist right now. I just enjoy hearing the opinions of folks on this board. By the way, spent a few months at Hood back in 91 when the 1st Cav went to teach Saddam a thing or two.

Thing is, Maine is very prejudiced against warm water fish and its rules and laws reflect it. Us southern boys still want to catch bass and bream though.

Flatlander - Pumpkinseeds (the northern equivalent of redear) will work as forage with LMB. Pumpkinseeds eat primarily snails as do the redears. I have this combination in a pond in NW Ohio. Works pretty good. However the pumpkinseeds will not get as big as the redear sunfish. With the correct bass-sunfish balance the pumpkinseeds will get 8-8.5" long (big enough to clean). LMB should get 15-16" long.

Flatlander, have you considered putting smallmouth bass instead of LMB in the pond? I am growing SMB in a 1/3ac mud, hard, bottom pond with yellow perch, bluntnose minnows & shiners; everyone is doing fine with reproduction and growth. I use eelgrass as cover for fingerlings & minnows. You might consider this combination in the more northern cool water pond.
Of the two stocking combinations I prefer the SMB,perch,minnow; perch are good eating and SMB are hard pulling acrobats.
Note: I would not use pumpkinseeds with SMB; too small of mouth for proper predation of the sunfish. PS Keep the snow off 20-30% of the ice during winter to minimize the chance of winterkill. Especially impt after 1-2 weeks of snow cover. Can you keep us posted on your progress?

Bill,

I've put in Pumpkinseeds, yellow perch, & shinners.

Your pond is about the same size. What ratios did you stock. Will the perch take floating fish food?

Thanks.

Pumpkinseeds were with LMB. I do not recommend yellow perch in combination with LMB because LMB as larger fish eat too many of the perch larger than 8" long. Number of perch to stock per acre will depend on their food and how abundant it is and how well it can maintain itself. Stocking number is it all depends and I consider it a case by case situation.