Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Water chemistry What do these numbers mean to my pond???

MM:

I have a one acre pond that I am currently trying to turn into a big BG/big RES fishery (with lots of LMB towards that goal) with a few large catfish.

Pond was finished Sept 2001, filled up Nov 2001. We stocked 20 lbs each Fatheads and Golden Shiners (and 100 Bullfrog tadpoles) in June 2002. Put in 200 BG, 200 HBG, 200 RES, 100 CC, and 5 Grass Carp in May 2003 with 200 LMB going in June 2003.

The original stocking of sunfish were up to 7" - 9" last fall, the CC left range from 3 - 6lbs, and the LMB are running from 11" to 15". And we had one "surprise" show up in the stocking, a HSB that was 18 fighting inches when last caught two weeks ago. Wipers are indeed a blast!

My mistakes: Should have just used all BG instead of BG/HBG mix, but I'll manage that. On my goal of a large BG/RES fishery, I should not have put in the GShiners, as they are currently hogging too much biomass (although I think they are good forage to have if you are concentrating on big bass). But the LMB, CC, and I are working on reducing their numbers and making room/food for the 2003/2004 YOY sunfish that have them way outnumbered (the 2003 YOY RES were 6" last Fall!). Professor Cody has stated that I shall surely triumph over the GS given time, and I would not bet against anything Bill says. If I get a successful LMB spawn this Spring I will feel very confident on how things are going.

We got all our fish from Jones Fish down by Cincinnati. They will free deliver any fish order over $150. But I don't have anything against Fender's at Baltic; I heard (Steve?) Fender give a talk on Grass Carp 3-4 years ago and he knows fish (and llamas, apparently). You can keep Jones in mind if you ever want to restock LMB/SMB from a different source for genetic diversity.

Your stocking plan sound good to me and with all the rocks your SMB should have as good a chance as they're going to have mixed in with LMB. You can always stock more if they don't successfully reproduce. Based on what I've read here you should hold off on the YP until the rest of the fish populations are stable and reproducing (if you decide to go with them).

-Theo

P.S. The Pros showed up with good advice as expected.