Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations fatheads and golden shinners?

Bill:

As to your "most likely" projections - I sure hope so. It has been interesting the last two years watching the MINIMUM size GS I can see/catch increase as the size of the LMB increases. I know the LMB are eating them from above, while starting this year the BG/RES should start outnumbering them. I really do think that GS are probably a good choice here for a Bass emphasis pond; I just found out after we got started that I'm more interested in large sunfish than trophy bass.

1. Have been feeding Purina Game Fish Chow since the LMB, CC, BG, HBG, and RES went in in 2003. Fed kind of light the first year, heavier last year (4 lbs a day 6-7 days a week while water temp > 60 deg F), which is way below what some consider maximum for a 1 acre pond. CC have grown very well, they are now running 3 to 6 lbs. GS ate the next most amount of the feed, with very little being consumed by BG (I don't think the adult BG were crowded enough to be real hungry).

2. All our fish came from Jones Fish in Newtown, Ohio.

I've got columns for GS size, numbers, and conditions in my fishing log (along with the "big fish"), so I will be recording their expected decline. I also expect RES to become scarcer (relative to BG) and plan on adding smaller adult RES (4" - 6") in the future to replenish them - I like them as much as BG and have actually dreamed about big Redears.