Originally posted by Russ:
Cecil, just curious, is this your first attempt at crappie in that .62 acre pond? Is this the same pond you raise trout in? You've got so much going on, I need to get my score card out to keep track. :p I'm sure you'll keep us posted with the results since you know all too well there are a number of Pond Boss members who would like to have crappie in their small ponds.
Russ
Russ,
I planted some last spring but only a few dozen survived out of a few hundred due to being beat to hell in a hauling tank by 1 to 2 pound rainbows and subsequent fungus infection. I have another source this year that is raising them I believe in an RAS, and I will be hauling them and should have better success. (I never have problems when I haul my own fish).
They were only 4 or 5 inches when planted into the bass pond and I was astounded to have caught and released one that was a very stocky 11 inches just a few months later. I will be putting them in cages again and I will purchase a special soft pellet feed to get them going again if they go off the feed in the cages. (This happens with my smallmouth bass even though they are pellet trained)
I have four ponds now. Nothing goes into the trout pond except trout.
I may actually put the crappies, if I get them big enough to sex, or even if not, into another pond with larger perch that are a minimum of 9 inches when planted. Neither will be big enough to eat each other and neither is super agressive which is a problem I have with my bass pond in that the bass don't allow the perch and bluegills to feed until they are at least full.
