Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Help Ponds 1 Birthday Now what?

Pond is 1 Year old today. We caught 2 9inch bass and 2 6 inch blue gill today.
History> Our North Eastern Ohio pond was drained and re dug to 9 feet. Total Cost was 2500 for bachoe and new stand pipe. Pond is just under 1 Acre. Dam over flow and stand pipe are working.
Stocked in May 06 2000 flat heads, 100 bluegill, 100 red ears, 100 perch, 150 Bass 2-4inch, 50 silver cats and 3 white amors. We had a 5 week 10 inch Ice freeze over however no fish kill. Fish were feeding last fall. When should I start aeration again? Should I add flat heads?

Go ahead and start aeration again. References: When to Start Aerator , Help with Spring Startup

I wouldn't bother putting in any more Fathead Minnows; Your BG are big enough to spawn well this year (presumably the RES too) and they will provide renewable forage for your predators. FHM would just be a one-time snack at this point.

You are possibly forage light (and hence relatively predator heavy, although I do not think you stocked too many LMB & cats for 1 acre) based on those stocking numbers. I'd keep a close eye on the condition and numbers of BG/RES and your predators; possibly an adjustment stocking of adult BG may be warranted.

If you had your heart set on spending money on more fish this Spring, I would add 50-100 adult BG (6" or larger).

Do you feed?

Thanks for your reply. I fed last year. BG, Cats and Amur were eating every night. My wife fed some BG tonight. I found a dead BG 6" tonite that looked like a Shark had bit him in half. I guess he died and A turtle ate him? We caught a 10" bass tonite. My English Springer Spainiels have been keeping the Blue Heron off. Are Blue Heron a significant Problem? Also I would like to Post some pictures but have not figured that out yet.

Geo

Well fed BG should spawn better, that's good. Well fed cats will leave more natural food for BG, that's good until the cats get huge. I hope you like eating catfish.

GBH are a minor, IMO, problem if you have lots of ordinary fish. They tend to be solitary (occasionally pairs are seen together) and if you have a large number of like fish I doubt you will find them ruinous.

If you have a few stupendous fish, the loss of a few is much more objectionable. GBH will wound and kill fish that are too large for them to eat (easily, at least). Cecil Baird has some of the most remarkable large fish around, which he happens to use to make a living, and is impacted noticeably by GBH predation. Being a bright guy he has developed and posted info on some fairly effective control methods. Do a search for "Cecil Baird1" posts with "heron" in them and do some reading.

See the archive thread on posting photos.