IMO some commentary about info in the green water farm.
1. The fertilization info does not FIRST suggest checking the alkalinity before adding fertilizer. IMO a mistake. If the bloom does not grow they then say check the alkalinity. IMO a waste of money and introduction of long term potential weed growing problems of using no bloom fertilizer on the pond bottom when not first checking alkalinity.
2. The fertilization info says that with no fertilizer the fish production moves from around 100 lbs/ac to 400 lbs of fish per acre. If one does not plan to annually harvest an adequate amount of fish each year to maintain a good fishery balance when using fertilizer, why fertilize? 100 -150 lbs of fish per acre no fertilizer should allow around at least 25-35 lbs of total fish harvest per year - see later. One can grow some really big fish in one acre without feeding nor fertilizing. You just cannot grow high numbers (any size) of fish per acre with no fertilization nor pellet feeding. Feeding good quality fish pellets does allow one to grow more fish per acre similar to fertilizer with less risk and fewer complications than compared to using fertilizer.
3. This from green water Farm.
Fish removal is necessary if fish population balance is to be maintained, but sensible controlled harvest is very important. Each species serves a special purpose in a farm pond. Bass 8 to 10 inches are the key to maintaining the correct fish population balance and should not be removed. A maximum harvest of 30 to 55 lbs. of Bass per fertilized acre each year coupled with proper removal of Sunfish is recommended = 120 to 275 lbs of Bluegill each year (when 30 to 55 lbs of bass are removed each year) from a fertilized pond. [u]Cody note: that is alot of fish to be removing each yr. If the pond was unfertilized suggested annual removal would be 5.5 to 13 lbs of LMB and 30 to 65 lbs of BG. Things to consider when fertilizing and or feeding pellets [u].
Bluegill and Redear provide most of the harvestable fish from a farm pond. When fishing is begun in a new pond, the stocked Sunfish will average about 1/4 lb. Unless they are harvested, a static population will result. Ponds with the best fishing need 4 to 5 lbs. of Bluegill removed for each pound of Bass. In fact, a good procedure is to remove every Bluegill that is caught, since they reproduce quite rapidly.
It is very difficult to have outstanding fishing of both Bluegill and Bass in the same pond. Slightly crowded Bass reduce the Bluegill population and more food is available for each survivor so the Bluegill grow to a larger size. When Bluegill are crowded, larger Bass may result, but the Bluegill will be smaller because less food is available per fish. See Table 3 The harvest of fish needs to be extended throughout the year. A large harvest, particularly of Bass, during a short period of time in early summer, can result in population imbalance. Delay of fish harvest until early June after Bass have spawned is a very good management practice. The most favorable situation for maintaining fish population balance results when fish are harvested regularly and moderately at about the same rate that they are being produced. Sunfish and Bass in good condition and variety of sizes taken in the catch are indicators that the fish population is balanced.
