Originally Posted By: CJBS2003
My biggest concern with stocking massive numbers of FHM like that is this... FHM often have unwanted hitchhikers mixed in with them. Bullheads, BG, LMB, carp, goldfish, the list goes on and on. When stocking FHM with unwanted hitchhikers into an empty pond, invariably, it only takes two of an unwanted species with no predators and abundant food, they multiply fast. By the time you get predators in, they are well established and can really mess things up.

FHM are extremely prolific. Stocking just a few hundred which can be easily hand sorted to prevent unwanted hitchhikers is my recommendation. Be patient, let them multiple and you'll be fine. When you stock the initially SMB and WE, add a hundred or two hundred larger, say 4"+ GSH and you'll be in good shape.

With a pond of that size, I think you can grow some quality SMB and WE. Just be patient and stock the appropriate numbers of each species at the correct time.


Congrats on your project, and welcome to the forum J Hooey! Love your fishery plans, I too have a cool water species fishery in a couple of my ponds.

I agree with Travis 100%. Consider stocking smaller numbers of FHM to allow you to hand sort and postively ID, especially when SMB/WE fisheries are concerned which are far more susceptible to negative affects of inadvertant stocking of invasive species [BG, BH, BG all could alter the fishery considerably]. Stock a few hundred FHM now, add some other forage like Grass Shrimp, Crayfish, a shiner species and another minnow species and wait until next fall to stock any apex predators like SMB or WE. YP stocking could be done next Spring or Summer, especially if you are pellet feeding to take pressure off the forage base. Consider the HBG idea - they will interbreed over many generations will revert to nearly 100% GSF genetics - could impact your fishery goals in a negative way. Think about an alternate sunfish species like RES or maybe RBS.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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