I am planning on stocking some new ponds on my property and an existing watershed next week.
I am hoping to get some feedback regarding my exact stocking plans. Please respond soon as I am stocking next week and finalizing my order by Friday.

GOAL: Trophy Bass Fishing

Quick History:

Bought 280 Acres in East Central Oklahoma January 10th of 2005. Existing 12-14 Acre Watershed is on property. This watershed was silted in and a new spillway was built/raised 5 feet 9 years ago. The pond was restocked with 320 Hybrid Largemouth Bass, 320 Hybrid Bluegill, 200 Copper Nose Bream, 320 Black Crappie, 300 Channel Cat, 188 large Bluegill, 8,000 fathead minnows. Current depth ranges only from 7 feet to 2 feet and I plan on raising the spillway another 3 feet in the near future. I have not done an electrofishing survey and don't plan one. I have been evaluating the fishing since January with the following results:

>Each outing results in a catch of 2-5 fish, 3 fish average. Caught are largemouth bass in the 2-4 pound range. Catching very few less than 2lbs. and many 2 1/2-4 lbs. We have caught a couple of 4+-5 lb bass and one 7lb. Channel cat seem to be fairly plentiful but not really fishing much for them. When we have the catch has been mainly 2-6lbs. I believe the forage base is completly eaten out. Have fished for bluegill extensively and we have only caught one very small 1-2" bluegill and one nice one 5-6".
Crappie seem to be thin (good as far as I am concerned) only catching 3 small 4-6" fish. Have never seen a single small fish in the shallows.

Also for your information purposes the pond has good vegatation but as most watersheds in Oklahoma has a turbidity issue with fairly muddy water most of the time and visability is about 6-7". I am adding many brush piles and larger timber areas for fish cover as it is needed.
Water level is maintained well as this watershed drainage area is over nearly 1200 acres.

I have built 3 new ponds this year. A small one acre pond,(Plan is for kid bluegill pond) a little larger 2 Acre pond, and a nice 5 Acre Pond. The large one will not fill well until the one above it is full as it spills into the second pond. The first two ponds have begun to fill very well and will see solid improvement as the fall rains begin. Current water levels are holding well and the two smaller ponds each have about 1/2 acre coverage and depth of about 6-8 feet.

The Plan.....

I would like to restock the watershed and begin the initial stocking of the two new ponds with forage base. Below you will find my stocking plan and I would appreciate your comments and recommendations. I have included some additional questions I would like your input on as well. Pond Boss is AWESOME! I get the magazines and have many of the books etc. I really enjoy this forum and appreciate your comments.

Stocking Plan:

Watershed:

>120# Fathead Minnows
>3,000 Hybrid Bluegill
(1,000 1-3" , 1,000 3-4", 1,000 4-5")
>3,000 Coppernose Bluegill
(1,500 1-3", 1,500 3-4")
>2,400 Redear Bream
(1,200 1-3", 1,200 3-4")
1,200 Largemouth Bass (3-4")

Note: The fish supplier is out of 4-5" coppernose and larger than 3-4" bass.

Each of the Two Small New Ponds:
--Currently 1/2 Acre in water surface area.

>10# Fathead Minnows
>250 Hybrid Bluegill
(125 1-3", 125 3-4")
>250 Coppernose Bluegill
(125 1-3", 125 3-4")
>200 Redear Bream
(100 1-3", 100 3-4")

Questions:

What do you think?

I know I must be in some ways simply feeding my existing bass in the watershed, will survival rates be good enough if there is reasonable cover for the fish to hide?

Stocking Window for New ponds? I read alot about the value of stocking the forage base early and letting it develop but am unsure of how long that "ideal" window of time is. Do you gain alot of benefit making it a year rather than six months?

Is it smart to go ahead and begin the forage base stocking prior to complete pond fill?

If it is ok do I come back with more small forage fish at my second stocking or larger ones?

I have ordered water tests to verify ph and alkalinity prior to the stocking to be sure everything looks good....

Thanks for your help!!!!!!!!