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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,994 Likes: 181
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,994 Likes: 181 |
John, if you have time and can share, I'd love to know how it went for you to raise tilapia in Michigan. Did you grow them in ponds in warm weather and back in cages in cold weather? How did you net to transfer back and forth? Did you net off an area in a pond for this or have a seinable pond for this?
What made it work and what made it not work so well?
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,103 Likes: 24
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame  Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,103 Likes: 24 |
My fish guy stocked some as a "bonus" about 8 years ago; 3 acre pond with SMB, BG, HSB, YP. Didn't see one for 4 years, thought they'd died, then caught several at 20+ inches. Biggest one I've caught was a little over 28", though most are 18-22". They are really fun to catch, and to watch, and I would encourage you to try them. I suspect it takes the right environment for them to thrive--lots of forage, and good water quality, they seem to like small BG and SMB....though I still have plenty of both. Must be one helluva good "fish guy"!!! 
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,255
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2007
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You may find that WE that large have trouble acclimating though and might not do well (folks have found this true when stocking larger LMB). IMO 12 inchers stand a better chance of thriving. I think this is really good advice. I stocked a good bunch of eyes a couple years ago in the 6-9" range, and also some in an older year class at 11-14". I have caught a bunch of the smaller ones over the years as they've grown, but only a couple of the larger ones shortly after introduction--and they looked rough, appearing to have lost weight since stocking. The smaller ones are now 14-18" and look great.
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Joined: Feb 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Must be one helluva good "fish guy"!!! The old fish guy was resourceful but not reliable. The new fish guy is resourceful and reliable but a bit hard on the surrounding flora.
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,103 Likes: 24
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,103 Likes: 24 |
Must be one helluva good "fish guy"!!! The old fish guy was resourceful but not reliable. The new fish guy is resourceful and reliable but a bit hard on the surrounding flora. Ouch!!! lol
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 186 Likes: 2
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 186 Likes: 2 |
It wasn't hard raising Tilapia in Michigan. I stared them as babies in my garage. My daughter bought me one hundred from a fish farm in Kansas. I had them in a ibc. Built a bio filter to filter the nitrates out the water. I built a cage out of pvc and plastic screen with wheels on it. When they got big enough and the temp got warm enough I transferred them to the pond. When they got big enough I turned them loose. Getting them back out before the temp drop is the problem. You have to hold some back. Hope this helps.
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