Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations genetics in a small pond?

Would it be a good idea in a small pond (1/3 acre)to add a bass or two every year or two caught from a diff. body of water just to keep the gene pool varied? Or does years and years of the offspring breeding with eachother make no diff. ? would this be the same or diff. for a larger pond also...? Could this be one reason some hatchery fish seem "a little off" compaired to wild fish?

What do you guys think? Kevin

i think the inbreeding is fine until you get a two headed bass playing banjo on yer front porch, then you need to add some new blood......

i dont know, just giving yer question a bump..... experts?

I don't care who you are, THAT'S FUNNY!

I like the idea but would try to be selective about the new blood.

Dave In Eldo. , I must have plenty of time 'cause my two headed bass can only whistle ,so i should worry when they move on to stringed instruments..?

Dave D., By selective do you mean healthy or age or by breed ?

Thanks! Kevin

I would use only bass that had a good WR. Since WR doesn't consider age, I would stay away from possibly/probably stunted fish from a bass heavy source.

For this reason, you might be better off to purchase a couple of one pound fish from a hatchery. There would be less chance of disease introduction and you would know that they are growing right for their age. Don't worry about their ability to play banjo. Daves California Cuties can't tap dance worth a hoot and have no idea which end to yodel from.

Kevin,

In a small pond, 1/3 acre, you can reasonably support about 35 pounds of LMB. I have a couple of relatively small ponds with LMB and the problem I have to manage for is overpopulation and stunting of the LMB. My opinion is that genetics, while a factor, is not nearly as significant factor in your LMB size and health as the carrying capacity of your pond, the forage, and maintaining a proper balance. When adding adult LMB to a small pond, carefully consider the pond balance and overall numbers of LMB to avoid overpopulation problems.

they always seem to start out unplugged. banjo/slide guitar/mandolin is just the start of it, the worst case i've seen is when they go electric and rig up telecasters to large Marshall stacks and wail out Stevie Ray Vaughn tunes.

edited post....you know i almost forgot to mention the final stage, this is where they nail themselves to boards, sell themselves to wal mart, and sing "on the road again" over and over.

:D :rolleyes:

So I gotta ask ya....


WHO'S YOUR DADDY?????

i like ya better off yer medication jeff

There is a 0.75 acre pond near me that is very close to 40 yrs old. No additional stockings have been done in the pond's history except for adding 8" YP, which never survived LMB predation, and the addition of several white amur-grass carp. The fish get regular pellet feedings and some of the largest bass (greater than 18") are annually removed while smaller bass are protected. Bluegills in this pond commonly get to 10.5" and LMB appear to be just fine and individuals keep moving into the 18" size category.

...why do people keep telling me that???