Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Amount of fish per acre

Ewest has given good advice on the RE's. You will lose at least half to predation. But that's OK and is to be expected.

I would like to reiterate my feelings on the bluegill. Even if they weren't hybrids or were only partially hybrids, your stocking plan on forage is woefully short for a 1.25 or 1.5 acre pond; especially with the predator load that you have. The "normal" game plan is for 1,000 BG per acre, stocked well in advance of predators. They should have multiple spawns before predators are added. Without crappie, you might get away with what you have done.

Redears are a niche fish. They have a job to do and do it well. However, they just can't compete with the common bluegill as a forage source. Admittedly, I don't know much about redears. Like ML, I stocked them and have never see any indication of survival. It is my PERSONAL belief that BG do about as good a job on parasites as RE. Both of them eat anything that moves and will fit in their mouths. I have no RE and have never had a parasite problem. Of course, every body of water is different. What did Arms say about your overall situation?

BTW, shame on Dunns Fish Farm.

I talked to Harrell Arms for over an hour today ,wish I could have stayed longer. He sold me 50 adult bg, 15 8in hsb, 50 3in res and 2lbs of gs. He also gave me the form to get grass carp. I will try to post more later as I am out of town.