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Joined: Apr 2002
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,993 Likes: 1496 |
GSH being a predator is a weak argument. Sunfishes including bluegill, mosquito fish, yellow perch, young crappie are also as predatory of small fish if not more than GSH. Too many LMB is a relative term and it depends on ones opinion of too many and one goals. Often IMO fish hatchery guys are highly focused on what it takes to grow high numbers of fingerling and yearling fish and they are because of their views and emphasis, not the best experts for raising trophy sized sportfish.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/21/13 07:53 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Dec 2008
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jdfarmer, what you're seeing here is the difference in expertise. Your longtime friend has been in the business of keeping fish alive, transporting and selling them for decades. That is an incredible feat. Something to be proud of, no doubt, and no reason to discontinue buying fish from him in the future.
What your friend isn't, is a pond manager. He grows fish, which is only part of pond management. Pond management is large scale. Lot of factors. And you happen to have stumbled upon the one place on the worldwide web where experts in this field gladly give advice on this topic for free. Esshup, Rainman and Bill Cody not only raise fish and transport fish, they make them work in an ecosystem. They know how they correspond with other species. They know how ponds like yours works.
I certainly would never discount your friend's decades of experience raising fish. But I also urge you to consider the decades of experience managing ponds providing advice to you as well. I don't want to date Scott, Rex or Bill, but I'd guess that experience total is approaching the century mark.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Hey guys, thanks for all the info. I know what u r all saying, I just have to figure out how to do it the right way now. Should I stock GSH now before LMB spawn to help with that control? Do I stock HSB for the same reason? Do I fish the LMB down or try to net them down to a reasonable population? Any suggestions on stalking rates for GSH & HSB? I guess my goal was to have big LMB but now thinking big HSB would be great too.
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With feeders I would consider the HSB as purely a "bonus" fish and will have little effect in your overall goals of the fishery..
I believe in catch and release. I catch then release to the grease.. BG. CSBG. LMB. HSB. RES. ![[Linked Image from i90.photobucket.com]](http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k247/jmilczski/Fish/PBSubscribe.gif)
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I would stock the GSH this spring and get them spawning. In all likelihood, they'll die out in a few years anyways. Until they do though, they will add a little extra to your forage base. Then your orginal stockers will die of old age and that will be the end of them. Few ponds that are steeply sloped and under a couple acres will produce self sustaining GSH populations under reasonable LMB predation.
I would stock no more than 25 HSB and probably keep it closer to 10-15. Then you can add a dozen or so each year after. Make sure you stock advanced HSB later on as the LMB get larger in size. Otherwise they'll just be expensive LMB food.
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Joined: Sep 2011
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Joined: Sep 2011
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jdfarmer, what you're seeing here is the difference in expertise. Your longtime friend has been in the business of keeping fish alive, transporting and selling them for decades. That is an incredible feat. Something to be proud of, no doubt, and no reason to discontinue buying fish from him in the future.
What your friend isn't, is a pond manager. He grows fish, which is only part of pond management. Pond management is large scale. Lot of factors. And you happen to have stumbled upon the one place on the worldwide web where experts in this field gladly give advice on this topic for free. Esshup, Rainman and Bill Cody not only raise fish and transport fish, they make them work in an ecosystem. They know how they correspond with other species. They know how ponds like yours works.
I certainly would never discount your friend's decades of experience raising fish. But I also urge you to consider the decades of experience managing ponds providing advice to you as well. I don't want to date Scott, Rex or Bill, but I'd guess that experience total is approaching the century mark. Very well said Omaha. I have noticed over time that there are many new pond owners that are caught in that curmudgeon.
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Joined: Mar 2013
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Joined: Mar 2013
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How many GSH should I stock?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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How many GSH should I stock? If you have some fairly thick, grassy, submerged vegetation in some shallower areas, and also since you have 2yo LMB, I would stock 25# pounds per acre (minimum 20#) and I believe they will establish in your area. Maybe you could PM TJ here and get some adult shiners from him too...?
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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The sooner you stock them, and the larger that they are when they go in, the better. I tried stocking adult 200 GSH (8"-10") in my pond, but they never took because 1) adult LMB 2) water draw downs due to drought left no cover for them to hide in.
I don't think 30#/ac would be too much.
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