Tracy, the key to have a successful Hybrid Striped Bass fishery in our part pf the country is to have/build a small dish shaped, no cover, no structure brood pond.
My stocking program:
FHM - heavily stocked late winter/early spring.
OTS CNBG - limited stocking late spring/early summer.
HSB - heavily stocked early spring for numbers appropriate for main pond goals.
No feeding until CNBG reduce numbers of FHM and CNBG - you want the HSB to be forage trained in order to control CNBG over population.
This little pond will be a jewel for a future classic CNBG/HSB fly fishing pond - if you are into this sport.
Aeration may be needed in future years, as well as 1 or 2 GC and appropriate numbes of ALL MALE tilapia.
If you do not have a brood pond, high quality 8 - 10 inch HSB are available from OvetonFisheries -
http://www.overtonfisheries.com/StockerFish/SportFish/HybridStripedBass/tabid/229/Default.aspxPictures below are HSB in 1st growing season.
After transferring appropriate numbers of HSB to main pond, �ladder stocking� is advised on an annual basis to replace numbers of HSB harvested or losss from CPR stress.
I strongly recommend aeration in Texas ponds - bottom diffuser systems in deeper area and surface aeration in areas less than 8-10 feet.
Any Q&A omitted, jog my memory - remember that our greatest challenge in our area is controlling biomass to avert fish kills in Texas heat and drought periods.
Good luck on your program,
George Glazener
