Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Blue gill

Here is the deal. New pond owner, new to Pond Boss. Really enjoy the forum, and the knowledge gathered here. My situation:
I have a small (1/6 acre) pond. I am just looking for some fish for the grand kids to catch, and enjoy the water. The pond was built this year (2015) and is full, holds water well, and is 10' deep. When it was 1/2 full, I put 2# of FHM in. Three weeks later full pool, I put 44 6-8" CCs in. One was about 4#, got in some way . I feed every day, CCs and FHMs come readily to feed. I have a little bit of structure in the pond, a 12' cedar, completely submerged, and 12 concrete cinder blocks. The minnows have spawned a couple of times, tons of minnows in there. My question: thinking about adding HBGs, as I can easily regulate how many I have in there. I am a little worried about spawning BGs taking over the pond. Really don't care to have bass, the pond is small, I want to keep it manageable.
If I put in HBG, how many? Couple dozen? I don't aerate, so I want to keep the biomass small.
I would welcome any thoughts or recommendations.
I have only tested my water for PH, it was 8.4. So far, all fish are doing well.

Anytime the stocking numbers are small, expect the fish to wise up pretty quickly when subjected to catch and release. And my experience with HBG has shown me that they are no different in this regard....a good kid's fish, yes, with the understanding that they can only be caught and returned to the water so many times before they figure things out.

I think the CC might be able to control recruitment of a very limited number of HBG, but I believe in taking no chances....I might add a few HSB as insurance. Maybe a male LMB or three.

My only knowledge of Texas is what I read on here. And the thing that sticks with me the most, is how dry things can become. I would try and keep that in mind when adding biomass.

At the risk of exposing my ignorance, can you explain recruitment? I apologize if it's been thoroughly hashed over somewhere else...

I believe what he is saying by "recruitment" is the HBG spawning. Recruits referring to having small ones babies if you will.

RC

Recruitment refers to the numbers of young fish that survive, continue to grow, and add to the population.

Woops sorry spark didn't know you were on..

RC

thanks!

Sorry if I show my ignorance, but will HBG successfully spawn? I thought they were like HSB, not able to reproduce. I wonder if HSB would survive in my pond? If it does not rain the top layer of water gets really warm, no shade on the pond. No vegetation, and gets very muddy with rain, not much grass in the pasture yet. It will clear to about 30" in a week or so. I live less than 2 hours from Overtons, so I can add or replace fish pretty easy.
Thanks for the help!

HBG are not sterile, and they can reproduce. The first generation hybrids normally purchased as stockers from a hatchery (F1), should be around 95% male. This is what accounts for their limited reproductive potential.

As far as HSB in parts of Texas, there are many members here far better equipped to advise you than myself. I will say that HSB are swimming in a great many Texas ponds, but I'm just not familiar enough with the geography.

I would say yes on the HSB others here in Texas have them, I have them here in Arkansas in my pond and it's hitting 100 here today. 2 things.

1. There not that expensive to try, put 10 or 15 in there and see what happens if you can get them fairly easy.

2. If you can you want to avoid catching them once your water temp hits about 80. Specially the bigger ones say 3 pounds and up cause they can't handle the stress of being caught I the warmer water and they almost always die once you release them. Unless you take great care of them after the catch like Mr. George does. He the man to talk to he knows all about them HSB!! And he is in Texas....

RC