To Noles58; You're right, it ain't that easy. We analyzed that particular lake from water chemistry to the details of population dynamics. We learned statistical details of the fish population, compared ratios, looked at relative weights. Then, we tried to make a thoughtful decision, based on the science of fisheries management and the art of experience. That decision happened to work better than we had planned.
To Sunil; What I meant was that hybrid stripers won't reproduce. Whereas we had chosen to stock advanced largemouth bass, they would reproduce, then we would have to deal with those consequences. Since we had no way to predict the consequences, we eliminated lmb from our short list of fish.
We knew lmb would spawn, but we had no way to predict success, based on the fact the lake was overwhelmed with crappie, which would prey on babies...maybe 100%, maybe not.
Plus, we knew we could project growth rates of hybrid stripers, even influence it with feed, if necessary. We couldn't readily predict growth rates of lmb in that particular situation.
To big_pond; I love the thought of trying something different from traditional thinking. That's how we learn, but sometimes it's tough to convince a landowner to do something different, for the sake of learning.
To Ed Richter; Go for it, track it, keep notes, and keep us posted over the next few years. You're absolutely right...3/4 acre...if it doesn't work, you can easily change it. There may be a Pond Boss story in the making here.
And to tritonvt; There's big differences between threadfin shad and golden shiners.
Threadfin shad reproduce several times yearly and their babies mature sexually in 40-60 days. So, they reproduce a lot. They are basically filter feeders, gleaning their food from the water column. Threadfins grow to 7-8". But, the biggest fact is this..when water temps drop below 42, they die.
Golden shiners, on the other hand, spawn once yearly, mature in a year. They are predator fish, limited only by mouth size. Golden shiners grow to 5-7".
Each fish has its own role in pond management, but those roles are totally different.
