Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose 30 SMB fingerlings 1/2ac bait pond

FishinRod -- the forum family needs more members such as yourself willing to experiment with using different fishes in pond stocking rather than the typical agency recommended fisheries of LMbass, BG and catfish. I do hope you can find a way to stock spotted bass into an experimental pond. It will be very good, actually excellent to learn more about spotted bass performance in pond habitats!

Spots are the red-headed stepchild of the black bass family.
They don't grow to huge sizes like the LMB and they're not sexy like the SMB,
but they are scrappy as all get-out when hooked.
I've never heard of anyone trying them in a smallish BOW.
Here in Misery they live in our Ozark rivers/streams/impoundments.
I expect they are also abundant in the eastern Kaw streams as well.
Forum members have proved that what "they" told us about SMB in ponds is almost all wrong.
I think it would be an interesting experiment to try Spots in a pond.

Step 1: time excavation of ponds in wet clay during a drought. That step is currently well underway!

Step 2: get family budget far enough into the black to spend money on ponds. That step is started, but has a ways to go for completion!

Step 3: go out fishing with buddies for spotted bass. OK, that step should be pretty enjoyable!

Here's something to consider... I'm not trying to kill the mood here but getting several spotted bass of legal size (to move) will be the biggest hurdle as they are not common above the 15" mark but the statewide length limit is 15..
I obtained my fish legally, but it wasn't by fishing.
If you want to try spotted bass Rod, and are serious about it, I'll see that you can get some fish, it'll just take some time to get the numbers. One time deal.

Snipe,

Thanks for the important notification about the length limits.

I haven't been able to get out bass fishing in Kansas for a few years, and had no idea that the 15" length limit now applied to ALL black bass!

Hopefully, I would have noticed it somewhere when I checked the possession limits before heading out on a fishing trip. I guess there may actually be a downside to having a lifetime hunt/fish license.

LMB are doing well. Rarely would see them through the summer but now seeing them group together 1-3 near the shore. I did start seeing them come feet with the shiners and BG, although the water is crystal clear now that the temp dropped with visibility to 4 feet.

I'd say some grew about 2 inches and look very healthy. About 10" when we got them and now at least 12 inches on the upper end. Not sure why now but did see some take pellets, though this seems pretty rare.