Hey guys,
Looking for some help on best way to proceed with stocking a pond.
We dug a just-barely-over-an-acre pond about 5 years ago that is about 12-14' deep. Last spring after some terrific rain we did a mix of 150 hybrid crappie, 80 LMB, 700 CNBG and 200 CC. These were 6-8" for LMB and CC and 3-4" for rest. Goal was a nice pond to introduce the kids to fishing and give me so enjoyment catching a few of decent size.
Enter the drought and a well guy who failed to show to put a feeder well in during the summer.
SO, after much cursing and yelling and the pond drying to 2' of water and the herons pulling most of the fish out of the pond we just got a well put in about 2 weeks ago. Now refill is ongoing. Its well water, so PH is high (9+), aerators will go in soon to help add CO2 & O2. Water is brown from the sediment running from the well pipe to where the water is, but it seems to be settling out per the samples I have taken. Alkalinity testing will be done next week, but Liming isnt an option with the current PH level.
I know the first answer to my questions will be that I should do a fish kill and restart, but from what I have seen from feeding and a really lame attempt at seining, there is not much there. So lets skip this, if possible, and look at the other options.
Immediate goals: I have a 4yo & 7yo who have been practicing their casting to fish 'their very own pond!' I could take them elsewhere (and have) but they really want to fish 'their' pond.
Long term goals: I want a pond with some fun fishing--LMB that arent too small (3+ lbs) so I can lure my "retired-Bengal Bass Buster" father over from Louisiana to catch a few with his grandkids, plus I love fighting a good bass. But I also enjoy CNBG fishing and frying up a cat or 2 for dinner every few weeks.
Here are my general assumptions:
1. At my fill rate it will take about 8-10 more weeks to fill the pond with no significant rain.
2. mud/dirt should start settling in 4-6 weeks once the water level rises over the fill pipe.
3. Aeration will help get the PH down from 9+ in 4-6 weeks as well.
So what should I do for a restocking plan (assuming the earliest restock date would be mid-late April in North Texas)?
I could go with an adult restock of 700 CNBG, 200 RS, 200 CC, 60-70 LMB and 15-25 lbs GS.
I could stock just the CC and FHM figuring to fish the cats for now with the kids and built a forage pond to add CNBG then LMB over the years. (This may be difficult due to lack of family patience).
I could go with a heavy CNBG stock plan (1000-2000) with some CC and figure to add the LMB next year at a 6-8" size.
Or you all could give me better ideas.
I am looking to balance the desire to hook a ton now with my 30-40 year goal of fishing my own pond for total enjoyment.
To add on to my questions, if I am looking at a late april/early may stocking time in North Texas, am I too late and should I just wait till fall?
Thanks for the help and thoughts,
John
