Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations F1 Bass in Southern Illinois?

Does anyone have any experience with stocking F1 bass north of interstate 64?
If I was ever going to do it now is the time, very low bass numbers after an intensive culling program this summer and as a result forage is very abundant. If it’s a no go on the F1’s any other ways to capitalize on this situation? Maybe HSB? Advise on stocking rates for this situation would also be helpful.

What makes your forage base? What is the size of your pond?

3 acres 18’ deep with good and ever improving structure. As of today bluegill is the forage but adding RES, GS and YP this week. I fully believe I will be able to establish a sustainable population of each with such low predation. LMB is the sole (current) Predator.

How far north of I-64 ?

Maybe 40 miles. It does get very cold here. But not usually for extended periods of time. I would say we have about 0-10 days a year that we could ice fish.

I have heard of mixed results with F-1s in that general part of the US. Some have had success being growth and survival rates that were not unusually low. This means survival and ok growth but not at rates encountered in say Tenn (I-40) and south.

If you can find northern LMB that are feed trained you should have good success. That would be my base for LMB. If you want to add a few F-1s then try to find a source with northern male genetics (from the North not from several generations in the south) and TX ,AR etc. female Florida genetics). What that means is no parental source from Florida or deep gulf coast south. Local adaptation in only a few generations can be substantial. If you can find them then try to buy a few females (only female Fla LMB get big).