Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Crappie Pond

The pond has alittle bit of cover because the owner killed it off a few years ago.

My 5 ac pond will be 4 yrs old in November.
Found this thread very informative about crappie in small ponds. What wasn't addressed was was the growth rate. My BCP spawned the following March (2014) and that year class is now 8-9" long. That's the only size that is caught,making me think that that is the only spawn that has occurred so far . They don't appear to be stunted at all and seem thick for their size. LMB,CC, BC, CNBG are also present. Catfish are about 3-4# and the largest LMB caught is about5#. Pond was also stocked with 50# shiners. Just trying to get a idea if the crappie are on track or not, or is the shiners maybe eating all the fry. Not sure the shiners are even still around or not

Anyone got any ideas?

Pat, I read this thread you brought up and I thought read about growth rates and how some saw really good growth rates when the pond was stocked on a regular basis using FHM's. I got the impression of monthly stocking fhm's or as needed when ever fhms were low in numbers. Also recall pond fertilization, phantom midges and grass shrimp along with the fhm's for good growth of 14" in one year. I just added 30 lbs of FHMs in early June this year to take some of the pressure off the cnbg fry. As close as you are to Overton's it might be worth a monthly trip over there. Just let your wife know you will be eating more lmb each month for the next 12 months and plan on spending some grocery money on feeding the crappie.

Tracy I read that a 3 yr old crappie should be about 8" lg . The original stockers were about 12" lg. Then the offspring took over the biting, and now haven't caught anything over 8-9" since the first spawn. They seem to have not spawned since. This is the first time I have seen any small BG around the shore. Even the LMB are looking really good with "shoulders". BCP are a strange critter for sure.

Pat, I don't know how long it takes to grow an 8" crappie, if 3 yrs? it sounds like that is a long time for that 8" growth. I know you have been here at this place longer than me and I remember you once had or sold aquarium fish, so I am sure you are on top of it all. But for me, everything I read about ponds and growing fish requires forage of the correct size to eat and grow. Lots and Lots of forage. Maybe its just me throwing money at things sometimes, but fhm's are cheap for the most part and I would fill er up so to speak for at least two yrs and see what things look like after that. Anyway, I hope you have some monster crappie someday soon in your pond

Tracy
Thanks for the reply, they sure don't seem to be overpopulating the pond at this time. Have also read that they are cyclical in their spawning habits , so far that is true. Since
Building our new house funds are short for adding minnows in enough quantities to do any good. This is the first time the LMB actually look really good since we started this thing

My insurance guy asked to come fish for crappie the other day. Said he wanted to stock his pond with them. I told him they could over populate but he wanted them anyway.

Fished for an hour and a half and caught 26 from the dock and put them in two large yeti ice chests with water. He released them at his place and said they all survived.