Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Muddy water Water clarity needed for stocking bluegill

My new 1-acre pond has been slowly clearing as grass establishes along the banks. It now has a Secchi disk reading of 4". Not clear by any means, but much clearer than the 0" that it was! So far I've stocked some fatheads but nothing else because I wanted to wait for the water to clear.

Is 4" enough clarity to go ahead and stock CNBG, or should I keep waiting?

Also, the temperature here is 100+ degrees and the surface water temperature is 94 degrees. Should I wait for cooler weather or is it safe to stock now?

Thanks!

I would wait until the water has cooled down.

Hey Ack,

I am no expert but I don't think muddy water would be an issue for stocking BG. What you should be more worried about is the water itself. Have you tested it to make sure it's all good to go? If so then I would do as Shorty says and would wait at least till things cool off a little. I am just across the line here from you and our weather is about the same. I stock my fish in Oct. and Nov. and or Feb. March. That seems to be good times for stocking. That's just my 2 cents of course. Like I said I am no expert but I have learned a lot form this site in the past 3 years. You have any pictures of your pond? Show it off for us. I would love to see it.

I stocked mine when it was muddy. It's still muddy and my BG are doing great. It was Early December when I stocked though. I think a water test would be best as RC said. I sent a sample to Overton's here in TX. I'm no expert by any means but I agree with waiting until it cools off if it ever does! That'll give you plenty of time to do other things to the pond. There is always something to do to the pond.

Thanks guys. So the consensus is that muddy water is ok for stocking but high temps are not? I'll wait for lower temps.

I think the water should test out ok because there are a ton of frogs and crayfish living in it. I will get the testing done just to be sure.

There are more pics than you could possibly want here: http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=18928&Number=256834

That's right. High temps are hard to move fish in.

I am worried that my pond water is too clear, I can see bottom on a sunny day at 6 feet, even when it rains the creek water is still clear, comes form a spring way up in the woods, no mudd comes into the creek.

My water will clear very quickly after I stur up the bottom, is this a good thing.?

Still some food for BG is available with 6 ft of visibility. Clear water of 6 ft transparency just allows for fewer fish to be supported per acre compared to water with 2 ft visibility due primarily to differences in basic productivity. Feeding pellets helps compensate for fewer fish in clearer water if that is desired. Feeding boosts productivity and growth rates. Spring is a better time to stock because water is warming and food increasing due to warming spring water. Winter is hardest most stressful season on fish. For newly stocked fish winter stocking is even more stressful.

Well, it's time to stock the bluegill and I'm up to 8" of clarity now.

I plan to stock bass in 3 months or so. I've heard that clarity does matter for bass since they're sight feeders. How clear should the water be before I stock bass?