Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Anderson Fry

Got the new issue today!

Imsaw the ad for Anderson fry, and I am wondering what folks think of this product. I was planning to stock minnows anyways, and the numbers look huge on this as a potential forage stocking.

Just curious what others think, or have seen using this product in the past.

2011 plans are to start culling, adding only tilapia and minnows.

It has been discussed many times before, probably less than 1% will live to be adults. Perhaps a little higher if no fish currently in the pond. But you would not want more than that to survive. Need to be present when they arive to get them in water ASAP.

Thats what I remember anyway
perhaps some experts will have more.

It also helps to have grass, etc. in the pond for them to hide in. Even with no "predators" in the pond, water bugs, frogs, etc., will eat them while they are small.

I did it two years ago and am still seeing adult shiners in the pond so at least some of them made it.

It's a big, it all depends as to how well they fry stocking is. What predators are present in your pond, be they fish, insect or other... What habitat type is available for the fry to hide in? Will there be a good bloom going on when you stock the fry for them to feed on? If not, they're going to starve. Lots of variables!

I stocked them 2 years ago. My place has a long creek leading to the pond. The creek offers tons of cover so that's where I released them. I never saw them again (but never really looked for them) until I was trolling across the pond about 6 weeks later and something jumped out of the water and into my boat. I looked down and it was a 3 inch Golden Shiner. I did have an existing pupolution of fish when I put them in. So, bottom line is that I am not sure how they did but I thought it was worth a try.

Unless you have a sterile pond with good nutrients, good cover and a lot of luck, you're flushing money down the toilet.

It depends. Some people have had good success - see this thread

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=192218&page=1

Also see James post above and CJ's explanation above.

Thanks all!

I've decided to pass on doing the fry - no need to waste the money trying. I put in about 10 pounds of shiners last fall, and I am going to let them run this spring with feedings.

I'm going to be adding some tilapia from Rex in the mix here in a couple of weeks, and it sounds like they will have plenty of spawns to keep things fed.