Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations 'Gap' in the ecosystem?

So I've been doing a good bit of reading/thinking and I'm looking for advice now....my big pond has zero in the way of 'bottom feeders' as they are typically defined.

I've got:

GSH (maybe, put a ton in there 2 years ago, never seen one since)
BG/HBG/RES/GSF - primary forage
BCP - aggressively managed, working like a charm
LMB
HSB

that's it. Maybe a few FHM's but they'd be few and far between.

I'm 100% positive I don't want CC/FC/BC just from prior experience. But to add some additional forage and also something that focuses on bottom feeding, why wouldn't I add BHs?

I have no idea if the perceived 'gap' I think I have is even there, and I would also at some point be concerned about carrying capacity. I assume this would never be an issue, especially as aggressively as I fish the pond. But listening to the horror stories about the asian carp just makes me cautious that I don't devote a section of my carrying capacity to a fish that provides little benefit.

I'm thinking they'd be one more option for the LMB to eat, and might absorb some nutrients that are otherwise going to waste due to my lack of bottom feeders?

I know turtles are pseudo bottom feeders, as well as crawdads and other 'critters'....I'm just wondering if I have a gap that could use filled?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Anybody? No one gonna try to talk me out of putting bullies in?

not sure what a Bullhead would eat off the bottom that your sunfish are not eating.

I sort of get excited when I read Sunil and company's posts about finding all the FA in the BH stomachs....that at least tells me that BH are going to be less particular when they feed on invertebrates embedded in the FA.

I'm not even sure I could get a population started if I wanted to....between the big BCP and the LMB I'd bet small BH's would have a hard row to hoe to stay alive.

A year or two ago once I learned my old pond had a BH spawn I did a lot of reading about BH's. One particular article by a person that enjoyed BH's said to enjoy them while you can. His message was that in a farm pond that had adequate LMB for predators BH's would eventually go by the wayside.

Whatever BH are big enough the LMB can not eat will either be fished out or die of old age eventually. All the spawn and small BH will be controlled by the LMB.

The article talked like that good BH fishing ponds eventually went the way of being a LMB pond. Take that for what it is worth. It is just what I read.

I can let you know in a few more years how it worked out.

I looked to see if I could find a link to that old article on BH's but could not find it. There is quite a bit of discussion about BH starting on page two of my GSF thread if you are interested.

100% GSF

D,

I stocked 6 adult bh in my 4 acres for the same reason you mentioned, algae found in stomachs. My observations: after 4 years, I see no sign of bh. I do have less FA.

I am not sure what any of that means though. I rarely fish live bait or bottom fish. My FA may just be in a down cycle. 6 isn't a lot of fish for that size water.

Tilapia are very good (bottom feeders - detritus ). Not sure if you can use them but for others here who can - take note. Tilapia were shown in several studies on lakes in Africa to have lowered the bottom level 6 inches in a short period of time.

Ewest, agreed. Tilapia would be great. Now if we could convince MDC they are not a threat to native populations... Maybe Illinois is more understanding?

Cmm

I had a pond with lots of Bullheads that a few LMB got into. Then the few LMB spawned and the following year very few young Bullheads were seen. I can still catch big ones but the little ones have been feeding 6" bass this year. I think BH will be a lot less abundant in future years. Good or bad that's what I have seen happen. I don't mind having BH in the pond, but LMB are fine also. So if you put some in they need to be adult. So I agree with what snrub is saying.

I'll offer this up as food for thought. If you want a catfish species in your pond, and don't want one that will grow to a size that makes them apex predators, then BH might be an option. IMHO....they taste great!