When the first pond filled up, we stocked the following, April 2004.
1. Bass 75 @ 4-6 inch
2. Hybrid Bluegill, 300 @ 3-4 inch
3. Native bluegill, 25 @ 4–6 inch
4. Redear, 75 @ 1-3 inch
5. Fathead Minnows, @ 8lbs
What we didn't know at that time is that the hybrid bluegills are 90% male. So, September 2004, we stocked 25 Channel 9 -15” (so we could watch them feed) and 150 native bluegill 5-7”. We see some small gills 1 – 3”, some other small unidentifiable minnows 1-2” and, small 1-3” bass, along the vegetation at the edges.
Prior to the warnings I read about shiners, I had thrown in dozens of shiners I bought at the bait shop, just for the fun of watching them get attacked (probably 300 early this spring 2-3”), we have also added/fed no less then 1000 crawdads, our pond has an abundance of chirp frogs, leopard frogs and bull frogs. I really don't believe our bass are starving, but merely spoiled, actually they chase the bluegill off from THEIR food, except the dead crickets and grasshoppers, they only want the live ones, and will only allow the gills to take the dead.
Again, I want to re-emphasis that we would like to hear some expertise on the species mix we are considering and forage requirements, for Walleye, SMB & Wipers for our new pond. I was considering the Tilapia, but maybe that isn't the best choice, we need to understand what will work best with these fish, and get some assurance that Walleye, Wiper & SMB, is an expectable mix.
