Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose BG's vs. FHM, which to stock?

We've completed installing (2) auto fish feeders on my 12 acre lake. The BG's are eating but I don't see many of them. Certainly not like the video's from Texas Hunter and others where it looks like the water is boiling. So we are thinking of supplemental stocking of BG's. Question is would FHM's be a better choice? They are cheaper. Should we do both? Not sure how many to put in either. Can FHM's ever be a better choice than BG's? All responses appreciated.

If BG haven't been used to eating pellets from fingerlings, then they might not show the feeding vigor that pellet raised fish would.

What are the goals? What fish (species and size of them) do you expect to feed with the BG or FHM?

What other species of fish are present also?

The goal is to increase the size of the LM's. Apart from harvesting some of the bass, a feeding program was initiated. I was instructed that I should consider adding more BG's if the feeding of the BG's does not help. We just started the feeders last week so I may have to give this more time. The only fish present are of course BG's and LM's. Looking at the pricing of FHM's vs. BG's I can certainly put more in. I can put in 20,000 FHM's for the same price as 2,000 BG's. I'm thinking the LM's don't care what they eat. Am I wrong? I just want fat and healthy LM's.

Unless you are targeting to grow LMB in the 4"-10" range, then the FHM won't do much good. The larger LMB will expend too much energy for each fish consumed with the FHM.

If stocking BG, make sure that they are larger than the LMB can eat. If they aren't, then the stocker BG will become quick snacks for the LMB in the pond. Typically, you want the stocker BG to spawn, and the YOY can grow to become food for the LMB.

If larger BG are out of the budget, you could always buy smaller ones, raise them to larger size in a cage before releasing them into the BOW.

You should stock additional BG or CNBG in the 5 inch range to avoid predation. Greg Grimes ([email protected] ) in your area can help with that and provide the numbers and pricing.

For that size lake you should consider a open water niche forage source ( TShad , GShiners etc).

It usually takes my bluegill several weeks each year to get to the "frenzied mob" stage even after the water has warmed in the spring.

I don't know if I would stock more bluegill yet.

You are basing your assessment of the situation on the fact that the water doesn't boil when you throw feed out.

A much better indication of the health of your forage base is how your bass look.

If your bass look chunky and well fed then I don't think that you need more bluegill. I would say that you are probably okay.

I also agree with the statement about threadfin shad. Twelve acres is a great size for threadfin and once they take hold in your lake your medium sized bass will always have food.

Are tilapia legal to stock in South Carolina. If they are you may want to consider adding a few hundred pounds of Blue Tilapia next spring.

Crayfish are another thought, however, unless you have good rock cover for them to hide, grow, reproduce my guess is that they will get obliterated shortly after being stocked.

Bluegill, tilapia, possibly threadfin shad candidates for your situation. You'll have to stock alot of bluegill to make an impact in a lake your size. They certainly should be 5-6"+ fish. We have a good source here in SC, shoot me an email.

@ Wade B. its a little late in the year for Tilapia this season, but next season could certainly be a different story.

I agree with what everyone else has said about the size of your bluegills too. You are going to have to stock larger bluegill in order to avoid the bass just filling up on an expensive snack.

Even if you could only afford to stock 200 bluegill that were too big for the bass to eat, that would be better than 2000 bluegills that will get annihilated by any bass 10" or bigger.