Chuck - What part of MI are you from? Who are your two fish suppliers??. I know about most of the southern&mid-state ones that advertise. For the other members here, I don't think Hyb striped bass (HSB) are sold or are not commonly available in MI.
1. I assume, that Chuck assumed, that he could raise trout in his pond since they were relatively DEEP. This is a common falsehood or wives tale that prevails in NW OH, NE IN, and southern MI. You need cool water AND high oxygen to keep trout alive in midsummer. I have had a few pondowners keep rainbow trout alive all year in NEW deep ponds in NW Ohio for the first year or two, then the trout start having survival problems. These few NEW ponds are initially fairly oligotrophic (nutrient poor) as new clear water ponds, and these ponds maintain fairly high DO at or in the upper thermocline throughout the summer, especially if the summer is not too hot. During an unusually hot summer (numerous 90F days), it does NOT work. As these clear water ponds age and nutrients continue to accumulate the higher oxygen concentrations deteriorate right above and in the thermocline, thus the mid-summer temerature refuge is no longer present and trout then die in July August. It only takes 1 hour of low DO and trout are dead. Bottom line I think you might be able to have trout in one of the ponds for the 1st year or two DEPENDING on prevailing conditions. NOW THE KICKER - if you throughly mix these ponds with bottom aeration, I am pretty sure you will destroy the cool water temperature refuge (destratification) that the trout need in mid-summer. Cecil manages to raise fabulous trout in tiny ponds with well water additions and proper aeration and experience and maybe a couple of secrets.
2. As we are seeing there are Lots of options for fish stocking in these two ponds.
3. Keep in mind that you could use the smaller pond to just raise forage fish to stock into the larger pond.
4. In this small minnow pond, you could easily stock some only male bluegills for put and take recreational fishing for trophy bgill. CHUCK - I highly advise you get the Mar-Apr 06 current issue (now out) and the May-Jun 06 issue of Pond Boss magazine. In them, Bruce, Cecil, and I discuss throughly the concept of raising trophy male bluegill (10"-12")in small ponds. It is a definate fish stocking option for you to consider.
3. I have not produced my article for PBoss mag yet about raising yellow perch in small ponds. I am still refining the technique. But you can use either pond to raise 12" to probably 14" yellow perch - no problem. We do it all the time in NW Ohio. Contact me by email if interested in this for 3 preliminary articles.
4. I agree with others above leave the catfish out if you don't plan on eating them on a regular basis. You are getting a sales pitch from the hactchery, lots of fish farms do it. Most hatcheries have generalized stocking plans for the average customer in their area. Most hatcheries are not interested in spending time with you discussing the options and diferent fish raising techniques. It takes too long and wastes too much of their time esp if other customers are lined up. Keep in mind that lots of fish farms specialize in rising small fingerling fish and they do not specialize in growing the fish they sell to be larger or trophy sized fish. They want to get to the next customer. They want YOU to use their stocking plan, buy it, and leave. They know you will probably be back for more fish later. Most small time and some large hatcheries thrive on their local business since they have little competition.
5. The connecting swale between the two ponds concerns me. I foresee fish moving between the two ponds during high water events. Is this possible?. If so, then cross contamination will occur. Keep that in mind regarding the species of fish you choose. Fish esp smaller ones will move through 2" of water to the other pond when the two are connected with high water conditions.
6. The maximum depths also concern me regarding the air compressor you have (rotary). As you mentioned, 18 ft is about maximum depth to push air to for prolonged periods. I had a fellow buy his 3rd air rotary compressor from me this winter because his aerator seller/installer is pushing air with it to 25-26 ft deep. These depths greater than 18ft cause the motor bearings and mechanics to be over stressed and thus they wear out faster than normal. Your air guage should not read higher than 10psi. The lower the psi is than 10psi, the longer the machinery of a rotary vane will last. If you burn up your rotary vane, buy a twin head rocking piston compressor. It will do the best job at the best price, & last the longest for your depth situation. Check w/ Stoney Creek Equipt(Grant MI) for this unit when it is needed.
7. You have gotten plenty of advice above about HBG so I will not add any more about them other make sure you search and read several of the great discussions about them here. HBG have their place in special applications, but be aware of all their negatives before stocking them.
8. Since you are in MI, SMB are definately a viable option for one of your ponds. But I think you should decide which you prefer, SMB or LMB. Then stock appropriately based on your choice. SMB and LMB do not mix well together in the same small pond IF you expect reproduction from both species of bass- use one or the other but not both, UNLESS you keep then separate in the two ponds then both usually reproduce successfully recruit young. .
9. Norm's stocking suggestions will require a little fatter wallet and from your initial post I am not sure the $$$$ are available every several yrs for restocking larger sized fish. If $$$$ are no problem, then his stocking plans work good.
10. Absorb all all the stuff, reread, and sort all the ideas we have thrown at you and then if you have some questions come back and we will try to help and not confuse you too much more. The ponds are yours to manage, and YOU need to decide on what goals you want and then manage toward those goals. We cannot decide the goals for you, we can just present viable possibilities and then hash them out with you as advisors. We all go at this fish stuff a little differently, but we all have to obey Mother Natures Rules or else - trouble happens!!
11. Copy and save all these related posts to your initial question, it will help you sort out and organize all this information and be good reference as you progress in pond management.
