Hi All, Hope I do not bore too much with this question generated by some additional reading I have been doing on the site plus a study or two.
I thought it was about this simple,in general, with it depend in the back of ones mind: One stocks for desired species, in the right(approx.) ratio, right times, feed and possible aeration, assess, and select slots and pound per yr. to pull out. After 3 to 5 yrs. restock for genetics and or to restock CC(no CC bedding areas) etc. as needed.
Now I have read or interpreted what I have read, that adding fish whether it be CNBG, LMB, in my case could or as I read will cause an issue with hierarchy, growth reduction due to established territory of existing fish an disruption by new addition(s),etc. to my Overton Select CNBG that I hope will become some of the 1st. class fish I have seen on PB.
If that is an absolute truth, then the indication is this: Stock, feed, grow, and pull out within management plan and then when disruption(s) happen I.E. out of balance, older fish 4 to 6yrs. or so, or some type of die off that did not kill all the fish etc., it would be better just to drain down take out the exiting fish, retnone and start over completely? Is that something I should consider, if I want to have trophy CNBG?
Since I do not get on that much, I will be redundant maybe in saying my pond is a one acre+ 17ft deep/6.5 acre ft., well fed, with some runoff from wooded areas, AQ 500 feed and aeration. I do have some structure and 10%+ quality beds on west side of pond. Stocked Spring and fall 2012 and added additional CNBG spring 2014.
Am I way off base here or is it just an overstatement on supplemental stocking for balance and no real compromise will be seen in a small pond like mine?
Thanks for any views, insights, opinions, because I am very dangerous when I try to think things out too much! I have proven it to myself more than once!!
mpc, over the years I have grown some really nice pure CNBG.
I will be happy to share my experience but there are too may variables to make hard and fast rules. I had some really good �trophy� size fish going into the bad 2011 drought year when our 2 acre pond shrunk to 1 acre and had a bad fish kill, with two bottom diffusers running 24/7. Thought I lost all my big fish but pleasantly surprised when I found some really good CNBG brood stock survivors.
When we finally got some rain I stocked 100 hand size Overton�s best CNBG.
I�m not fishing right now until water cools down but I am looking forward to some 11 inchers since catching many 9-10 inch CNBG the past spring.
First of all , I cull all BG between 5 and 8 inches and all females over 5 inch unless really big prime females for brood stock.
Secondly every male is removed that does not meet easily recognized Overton�s characteristics of his best brood stock.
Pictures below shows wide body, few vertical stripes, cream colored fin tips and broad prominent copper bar on nose and coloration obvious to others not color blind..
FireIsHot OTS CNBG
Here's one of mine
If you have a well to maintain constant water level you can avoid majorf problems, but if not a 1 hp Kasco surface aerator will be an asset to handle low water conditions if drought continues.
Good luck,
George Glazener
