When I stocked them, the bluegill were 1-1 1/2 inches. Same for the bass, maybe 2 inches or so.
Judging by the eggs in the bass I caught and the water temp, I would assume that the ones that had eggs spawned, but I am yet to see any bass fry.
If I were to stock some threadfin shad at this time of the year, would any spawn? Or would they just be a supplemental snack for the bass?
We have a hatchery about an hour away that only delivers shad via their transport truck $325 per 1000 plus delivery fee.
The water temp this weekend was in the mid-60s
I guess I am worried any forage will be eaten before it gets a chance to reproduce, but that is always the case. But that may be a good thing, just costly.
We stock threadfins in southern KS right now.. The 1st and 2nd reproduction hatches will also spawn. This is where I said dense habitat is needed and why. Survival of a few creates billions in a short period of time that grow quickly to useful sizes.
Had a truck deliver TFS that most had died.. several blew eggs in the tank. Beings they made the trip, they were dumped, eggs and all in an existing fishery. 2 months later the pond was full of TFS.
2nd note: a fish that has skinny condition, yet has eggs, is full of primarily "blanks". If condition is not optimum, eggs are not either.
If a fish is "X" length, it had to achieve "Y" length to get there at or above 100% WR. if it's low for it's length-depending on the time of year- It's lacking forage or the ability to ambush without expending more than the return.
EDIT: I started this reply prior to several posts above so there may be a conflict in what I said. We see great results from threadfins but not super small ponds. We have done some in 1 ac ponds with decent results depending (AGAIN) on habitat situations.
