I'm curious as to why HBG aren't an option, or are they? I have a similar stocking plan, but added HBG, so grandkids could always catch something.
I was told by the fish seller, that they wouldn't reproduce, but I now think that was bad information. I've been trying to remove females, but I'm not really all that sure about which is which. Less distinctive or less colorful HBG aren't going back..
I've still got lots of smaller fish along the banks. I pretty sure most of those are FHM. I've added crayfish, and grass/glass shrimp, but I don't think either of them were able to get established.
Catching lots of HBG, and YP. Occasionally catching nice SMB. They are all very healthy. Still haven't caught a HSB, but I see bigger swirls along the banks, and out in the middle of the pond, and small fish jumping out of the water, as if their lives were in danger. (I imagine they are.)
I am a bit concerned that the HBG will evolve into something else, and get too numerous, but so far, things seem to be stable.
Pond is only two yrs old.
Edit: I see the BG are already stocked in the original post. I was going to delete this post, but if anyone has info on HBG recruitment, and management, I would appreciate the help.
Thanks,
Jeff
Actually both Yolk and I recommended HBG as additional lepomis species in our posts - they are a good potential companion species in limited gape fisheries.
HBG will reproduce, however offspring (like their parents) are heavily skewed towards males, anywhere from 70-95%+ by most studies depending on sex of parentage. Therefore their population are easier to manage than pure BG.
If you want to verify presence of crayfish population, bait minnow cage with food or meat scraps and place in 1-3' depths. I'd wager within 3-4 days you'll see crays - if not, move traps to new location and repeat. I often don't need to bait cray traps as tadpoles will naturally enter cage and die over time, attracting crays - it's a self baiting system, but your situation may be different.
To survey grass shrimp, take a long handled net with 3/8" mesh or smaller and run along shoreline in 1-3' depths walking along the shore. This time of year they are shallow in warmest water possible. If you have vegetation, they'll be sometimes in 1-2" depths just run the net right through the vegetation. Mine are shallow pond wide even without presence of vegetation this is the best time of year to sample them in my experience.
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