Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Predator Fish in a 2.5 acre pond

roy:

First off, howdy and welcome.

I had HSB in a 2/3 acre (9 feet maximum depth) pond in Licking County for several years with no problems other than 1) introducing them into a pond with and established LMB population and 2) they died when all the other big fish were killed in a major fish kill. While warm weather stress on HSB can be a problem down South (avoided by not fishing for them in hot weather/water, or using bottled oxygen and a diffuser in a recovery tank like George Glazener did), I don't think you would have too many problems being a little North of me. SMB predation on new HSB should not be as bad as LMB were for me.

For other controlled number predator options, Walleyes are another species you could use. FWIW, I like eating Walleyes but not so much with HSB. Wipers are a blast to catch, though, and will grow fast and large when fed a high protein fish feed. I lost a couple of 8 pounders in that fish kill.