Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations tilapia

I would rather see Threadfin Shad stocked in the Spring or Rainbow Trout in the winter if your goal is purely supplemental stocking. Things that we know aren't going to cause a potential problem by getting over populated. Obviously those are not in everyone's budget and tilapia are a cheap alternative. I only have a few ponds that I have had reservations about stocking Tilapia. Those are intensely managed Trophy Largemouth Fisheries south of that I-10 mark ewest mentioned where we are harvesting heavily to keep bass numbers low and weights high. I have always worried those ponds may have the potential for tilapia to overpopulate. If your goal is more on the quality side and you are looking to maintain good relative weights on a higher number of bass, I think they are great. Especially so if you have a lot of shallow water and you struggle with filamentous algae. Turning filamentous algae into useable fish protein is certainly a helpful tool. In Central Texas, I would have no reservations about it. Stocked some up around Waxahachie,TX last year to help with a major filamentous algae problem and stocked some more out near Waco to help with algae and feed bass in a high catch rate pond a client uses to entertain guests who can't fish very well lol