When you count in all the yoy that die 30 % mortality is not that high. As noted lots of yoy and even adult fish die from poor food supply.

Cody note - when we consider that the RES do not produce very many eggs and fry compared to BG production then 30% is a pretty large part of the total annual numbers of the RES produced. If there is a poor spawn maybe due to weather or nest egg/fry predation then the YOY production is even less. Then when we add in the winter mortality of 10-30% it is now more understandable why RES seem to be scarce to rare in ponds where they are stocked. If RES are an important panfish in your pond's fishery, then periodic or annual supplemental stocking should be seriously considered. Then to help improve survival of stocked RES, one should reduce the RES competition for food by at least removing as many BG as RES that are stocked. For example: if you stock 100 RES then remove 100-150 similar sized BG. This gives the newly stocked RES a better chance to get enough food for survival and hopefully start growing in their new habitat. Restocking fish is stressful in itself so giving them an added benefit is only wise fish management.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 11/24/14 02:18 PM. Reason: Added information note