Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Evaluating New Pond and New Fish

Yep, I noticed the poor growth too. There are two main factors contributing to the slower than possible growth they got. They did not stock minnows. Would have really helped LMB growth if they did. Also they stocked at 100 LMB/acre where you stocked at 38 LMB/acre. Big difference in the density.

If I had to venture a guess as to why the larger bodies of water had lower survival it would be this. The bigger BOWs had less shoreline relative to surface area. I think YOY LMB need shallow water and that space is habitat for them. So the larger stockings of larger BOWs filled the shoreline spaces at greater density creating more competition and increasing sibling encounters (some of which end in mortality). A smaller BOW tends to have more shoreline relative to surface area. Probably not the only thing contributing to higher survival in smaller BOWs but seems reasonable as an explanation.