Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait Stocking forage species...a timeline

It's up to you, but I don't believe you need to space out forage base establishment over such a long period of time. Since I wouldn't want to wait 5-6 years until I catch some good sized fish, I'd stock the LCS, BNM, PK Shrimp, and crays in the same year, allow the LCS a year to spawn. Consider stocking a smaller shiner species, like the Spotfin, instead of GSH. If they don't take, you can stock adult GSH and establish a population down the road. Once your LCS spawn in year 2, consider stocking your panfish and allow it all to simmer until year 3.

I would recommend RES over PS - better companion species for SMB. Fishery studies consisting of SMB/PS showed the SMB could not effectively manage the PS, they overpopulated and stunted. The RES is more suited to your climate, grow larger, and are far less fecund and likely won't serve as a management issue.

You can stock your lepomis species in year two, maybe following the LCS spawn to just be safe.

Year three you could stock your YP and SMB in the Fall. Consider getting pellet trained fish to take pressure off your forage base. No reason you can't manage SMB, YP and RES together - I do in my primary fishery and have trophies in each species.

Sounds like a great project, right up my alley. PM me if you want to bounce anything off - I've been doing the SMB/YP/RES/WE/HSB thing for several years and manage many other fisheries that are similar - am happy to help in any manner possible.