Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction new member, rookie, new pond <1acre

HSB do not need to be fed pellets. Feeding them pellets tends to make them grow faster, have more of them, and you can better have an estimate of their density and sizes because you see them at feedings. However they will do okay without feeding. You can mix then in with largemouth at about any initial stocking ratio of LMB:HSB. HSB do eat sunfish and can control their numbers when the HSB are abundant enough. Their stocking density really depends of the type of forage fish they have to eat and control.

Regardless of what you decide stock, this late summer or fall or next spring stock some fathead minnows to kick start the fishery. Initial stocking of them in 0.7 can be 4-8 lbs. If the pond is full in October then you could also stock the sunfish HBG and/or RES or wait till spring. HSB could be stocked in spring. If it were my pond I would first stock the HSB for a year, see how they performed then later when you start to see small sunfish around the edges (1-4yrs) stock some LMB 5"-7" to help the HSB thin down the excess small HBG. It is doubtful the RES will ever become abundant enough to be considered common in the fishery.