Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking What to do next

What to do next.
Have a 1-� ac 5.5�-11� pond that was dug in the fall of �05. Spring of 06 was half full and was stocked with 4000 fathead minnows, 70 YP yearlings, 50 LMB fingerlings and that fall 500 crayfish. Unfortunately I listened to the supplier, this was BPB- before Pond Boss, and stocked the predators along with the prey. I was considering adding some shiners, possible more minnows- I don�t see a lot in there now, some CC along with a feeder, and possible more YP and LMB.
Was going to use the pond for 1) science project, 2) fresh food occasionally, 3) fishing hole.I can see the LMB patrolling the shore but don�t see any of the YP. Was thinking of trying to set up a blocking net so the bass don�t eat everything I restock with. I enjoy reading PB and purchased one of the Hach water test kits over the winter. Any comments or suggestions on stocking ratios and sizes would be appreciated

TedW, I have a lot of Yellow Perch in my pond, and I don't really ever "see" them unless they're on the end of my line.

Over the past 10 years, I saw only one that was suspended in some water, but I was in a boat.

How big are you're LMB now? That may help in deciding what else to stock.

How big are the LMB now ? If you stocked 2-3in LMB one year ago they have not eaten all the FH YP and craws yet. Before you add more you need to know what is there and how they are progressing. There are several ways of assessing what's there including fishing , traps , seine , visual and electro shock boat. You don't need the last one yet. Gather some more info and tell us what it is.

BTW the advice to stock yoy predators along with the forage is not unusual for northern ponds and may well work.

Walked around the pond today,70 and sunny and saw probably 15 LMB hugging the shore. Caught 8", two 8 1/2' and one 9 1/2" LMB. No scale but they seemed in good condition.

Close but there is a good chance given your location that the LMB will not spawn this year. Have you seen any LMB spawning activity? YP may not have spawned either. Nither may be big/old enough. If so then the only fish which may have spawned are the FH. Have you seen any FH or minnows or small fish ?

Water temp is 62-64 in 3-4' of water from shore. See some FH but not alot. Most in shallows in back of pond where it floods, 6-18" of water. Would say they spawned at least twice last year because noticed their abundence while walking around. See some other fry in another protected area. About the same size as the FH but clear abdomen and seem to dart around faster. Don't have my good camera at home here. Have been looking for YP egg packets since ice out but have not seen any. Have not noticed what looks like any LMB spawning activity.

Ted, have you given any thought to adding another forage species, say RES or BG?

My thoughts were to add shiners, is that what RES are? The pond will not have a high fishing pressure so I am afraid to add BG from what I read on this site and in PB. Was thinking about adding more FH minnows but as was stated in the latest PB issue they are not a good idea to add with a predator base already in the pond.

RES are Redear Sunfish. They are the only member of the Lepomis genus which grows bigger than BG. They also are virtually the only Lepomis that is not prone to overpopulating and stunting. As an added bonus, perhaps their favorite food is snails; by eating these they disrupt the fish-fisheating bird-snail cycle that several fish parasites must complete in order to show up as grubs in you fish. They taste like BG (wonderful).

As you can probably tell, I don't like them very much.

TedW, as the LMB get bigger, there is a good chance of them eating all of your yellow perch. The long, slender form of yellow perch goes down too easily for a larger LMB. In a small lake, there isn't any place for them to hide. That means you need another source of forage. You can provide this with a forage species or pelleted food.

So in a pond with a lower fishing pressure RES would be OK? Any number and size reccomendation? I have a hard time seeing something surviving much with the way the LMB patrol the shore looking for something to eat. On a warm day there are schools of LMB just creeping along looking at the shoreline. What about shiners?