Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions New pond going into winter

Hello

I have just built a new pond. It will be about 14'deep if it fills all the way. I have about 6' of water in it now. I have been told that it should be ready for fish anytime. I put in about 30 small walleyes, and 8lbs of fat heads with them. Nothing else in the pond just divein bugs and lots of them. My pond is about 1/2 acre surface now. I have some ice on the pond now. Not sure if the eyes are gonna make it over the winter? NO areation yet. The fish have been in for over a month and no floaters befor the new ice the new ice. I put a water camera down threw the ice and the swimming bugs are all over the place. Hopefuly this is a good sign. I would loves some comments. Thanks.

I wish you well with this effort. I would say However that 8 lbs of fatheads are not nearly enough as they are the only food source that you described for the Walleyes.

Typically you need to add in the forage fish ( Minnows, crayfish, ...etc ) prior to adding in the next fish in the food chain. You need to give the forage fish time to establish and multiply enough to support some of the larger fish. That being said, walleyes are at or near the top of the food chain. Thus those minnows don't stand much of a chance and will not last long. The walleye will also suffer for lack of food. I hate to sound negative but in my experience it is very important to build up the food chain and let each part of it take time to take hold.

If the walleye make it to next season, you will have to find a way to establish the forage base rapidly. This may require some costly decisions around what to put into the pond and how much to over stock it such that some will make it through to spawn the next season.

The hardest thing I have had to do with my pond is wait to stock the pond with what I want while what is needed is taking hold. But that being said, my pond is much better for it and is in great shape because of it.

As for the depth only being 6' in the pond, I am not so sure that any of the walleyes will make it due to where you live and how thick the ice usually gets there without any aeration. I hope that some of them make it through and that you have a few thaws that add volume to your pond as the winter carries on. If you do lose them all then I would really suggest you take it slower and let the food chain establish prior to adding the big boys into the pond.

I hope all goes well for you and welcome to the fun of pond management!!!

Welcome to the forum . How small were the eyes and did you put them and the FH in at the same time ? What did the water look like when they went in (did it have any color -- bloom) ? Was/is there any plant growth in the pond ? ewest

MN Fisherman, Welcome to the forum. Being that your pond is such a new one, your oxygen demand this winter should not be a concern. I don't think you have too much biological activity to consume more oxygen than is present in the pond now.

My only concern is as Eric's that the ice may tend to get thick enough to not give your fish your walleye enough area.

As Eric said, if you make it through the winter I would suggest letting the food fish take hold before adding any more game fish. Good luck!

Even though this would not help the fatheads take hold, could you continue to add fatheads (through the ice) as the winter goes on?

This may help the walleyes sustain themselves over the winter. However, making the walleyes survive over the winter could make it hard to get any forage base established next year.

Also depending on the size of the newly stocked eyes, if you put larger fatheads in now, could they survive through the winter and effect successful spawns next year?

Could you auger a hole and put in a 100 or 200lbs of fatheads?