Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations When to stock?

I decided to stock the following species in my one acre Central Iowa pond: Amur, LMB, regular BG, FHM, CC and perch or RES. I would appreciate any comments on my choices. Also, can/should I stock all species at the same time in October? Is that too close to winter? Should I wait to stock in the spring, some species or all? I should also mention that my pond has small HBG already stocked.
Thanks for all your comments!

What species of weeds are in your pond that you are having a problem with?

Not sure about weed species. I don't really feel I am having any overwhelming issues in that department. We have an aerator which helps quite a bit.

Then there's no reason why you have to stock the Amur.

What are the goals for the pond? If you plan to do any swimming in the pond, then for sure I'd include RES in the mix.

What else is in the pond now besides the HBG, and what size are the fish?

What size are the fish that you are planning on stocking, and what numbers of each?

No swimming. Just a healthy pond to fish. Only species in the pond are this year's HBG. We had the aerator off in the middle of the summer (duh!!) for almost two weeks when the temps were 100 degrees plus. Water temps got way too hot. The pond is not spring fed. All HBG, except for the smallest, died off in July. They are the only fish left in the pond.

I am planning on the following:
150 LMB 3" - 4"
500 BG 3" - 4"
15# FHM
50 Channel Cats 8" - 11"
200 RES 1" - 3"
And is Oct too late to do all of this?
Thanks!

October is fine. If you want a Large BG, LMB heavy and stunted pond, then those stocking #'s are O.K. If you're looking for a more balanced (fish wise) pond, then I'd stock 50 LMB.

How big is the pond?

FWIW, typically on the light side it's 1 LMB per 20 BG, on the heavy side it's 1 LMB per 10 BG. You might see some predation of the RES by the CC with those stocking sizes.

My pond is approximately 1 acre. Does that change your recommendations?

The ratios stay the same, (LMB to BG) even if the BOW size changes.

Should I go less on the CC or more on the RES?

RES are there to help break the parasite life cycle that uses snails as an intermediate host. Usually they're about 20% of the total sunfish stocking numbers.

As for the CC, if you like 'em I'd wait a year before stocking them just because of the small size of the fish you are stocking. Personally, I wish that I'd never stocked them in my pond. My neighbor feels the same way. Too hard to catch once they get larger (3#+). But others that like them, stock them, so I ain't arguing with them!

I think both the CC and LMB numbers are too high for that small of a pond. I'd cut them both down by 2/3rds initially. You can always supplemental stock later...........or wait a year on both of them to get your forage base established..........and put your FHM in right now or yesterday would be better..better yet months ago....get that forage base going....."baby steps to success" not just "jump in the deep end".