Originally Posted By: beastman
I was hoping SMB would eventually run with the HSB, my plan for this pond is going to be very little natural forage stocked . My plan is to stock in the Spring and feed heavily and aerate. HSB, HBG, SMB, , maybe some YP. What size for the HSB and SMB before they can take the AM LMB?

Given pond is 3/4 -1 acre was thinking:
40 HSB 8-12in
25 SMB 4-6 in
200/250 HBG 4-6in
50 YP 4-6in

Going to be heavy fishing pressure so want new classes stocked every couple years and harvest the slow growers. Don't think there will be much success in recruitment given the lack of natural forage but wouldn't mind if the SMB had some success.

Thought?


For clients who want average sized fish with higher angling frequency, these are the numbers I recommend per acre assuming they will employ a supplemental feeding program:

50-100 SMB
25-50 HSB
500-750 HBG
250 RES
150-350 YP

Personal goals will alter these numbers significantly, but this guide might help you make decisions. If you are light or heavy on these numbers after a few seasons you can always supplementally stock or harvest to nudge populations more in line with your goals. Bear in mind your goals may change after a few seasons, too. Good news with these fish species is in my experience their population dynamics are far easier to manage/affect than species like LMB or BG.

Few examples: SMB yoy are easily collected via 1/32 mesh net in Spring - and if WRs are low you can easily remove 10-15 fish.

Same for low WR HSB - either increase feeding times or harvest a few.

YP populations can be managed through angling and harvesting all males and removing egg strands in Spring.

Keep all female HBG and low WR fish caught. Introduce new HBG genetics every few seasons to keep genetics from reverting to GSF per Cody.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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