Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking Stocking bluegill in September...

Part of my management plan includes stocking several thousand CBG, as there is no existing BG population. Is is too late in the year for stocking? Should I just wait until next spring? I'm anxious to do it sooner rather than later, but if it is too late for a BG spawn I would probably just be feeding the bass for the winter. Please let me know your thoughts...

Dan, I think it all depends on the size of the bluegills. My initial thought is that you are bass heavy and need to be thinning instead of stocking. On the other hand, if you stock 6 inch+ CNBG, it might be OK. Here's my ideas. By the time the water/weather cools enough to safely transport and stock fish, spawning time will be over. However, you have a good chance of getting a better deal on larger fish at this time of the year. The Farms may not want to carry them over. Next spring the price of larger stockers will be up, if you can even get them.

Maybe he should thin bass and stock 5"-6" bgill.

Yep, Bill, I agree. He has 3 beautiful little girls that ought to be able to do a lot of damage to those runt bass..

Dan,
I agree with Bill Cody � he an easy guy to agree with
Thin the bass and stock adult BG.

I am a strong proponent of adult stockers of any species in existing ponds to avoid predation, and in new ponds for a fast start, when possible and available. � CC an exception

In our area if you stock adult BG as soon as possible, you could get a couple of spawns before cold weather returns � if ever.

Todd Overton recommended three large breeding pairs to transfer from our main pond to new � acre BG/HSB pond a couple of weeks ago � I transferred 6 pairs for good measure
Economics look good to me � but experience with small ponds only.

We have had spawns in the past as late as November in our area.
Since we are neighbors, email me or call me � I may be able to help.

George Glazener
N.E. Texas � acre and 2 acre ponds

Dan :

I agree you should start taking out LMB and add adult BG. We have had good success with this approach under similar circumstances. I have used this approach with 2 added elements. We split the adult BG to be added into 2 seperate stockings. One in early fall (sept.) in hopes of getting a late spawn . The second stocking in late Feb. (1 mth. before expected spring 1st BG spawn) to insure that some BG remained to spawn. The other element we used on a different occasion was using a blocking net to block off a small cove in which to put both adult BG and 2-3in. ones to grow out and release in summer. They were fed pellets behind the net spawned twice and then the net was removed. Netted area was about 2000 sq ft.. Drove the bass out and let down the net 2 weeks before BG arrived. This method worked well as most BG stayed in net area grew and spawned. Some did escape I think under the net my guess 10-20 %. We did this also in another pond on a smaller scale where the net area was 800 sq. ft. ewest

Thanks for the suggestions. Bill, we've already culled 300 LMB under 11" (I should have mentioned that in the original post), so we're ready for the BG. I like eWest's idea of stocking some in Sept. and some in Feb. Also like Dave's idea to stock adult BG and do some in the fall to save some $. Thanks for the advice. One more question for you crafty pond veterans: What is a good number of BG to stock per acre if there is no existing BG population?

We've got a pond designated to 5"-7" bluegill production, and have a lot of good fish in that slot at this time. Buying in the fall would ensure you get the fastest growers out of a batch of 10000 original stockers in this pond. We will be headed through your area several times this fall. Stock 100-200 fish/acre if there is risk of predation and for long-term forage fish production.

Add adult bluegill and have a bass fish fry. Everyone wins.