Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose HSB/CNBG/RES only, no LMB ?

I assume that Darryl's pond (HOU) is south of Houston TX. I assume from his initial post that addition of the CNBG and RES is for fast catch and release action for kids fishing.?.?.

My thoughts:
1. A number of the CNBG and possibly the RES will have to be harvested to keep the fish community in balance. The number to remove will depend on primarily goals and fish density.

2. It will be MUCH easier to 1st stock HSB and then later if wanted LMB, than the other way around - LMB and then HSB. HSB are less likely to eat smaller LMB, than LMB eating smaller HSB which is a definate problem. Stocking LMB and HSB together is doable but later adding HSB requires that the HSB be larger sized fish as has been mentioned above.

3. Since Darryl lives in TX, no one has explored first stocking threadfin shad, plus maybe FHM or G shiners and HSB plus supplimental feeding high protein food. This should provide lots of HSB to catch and no worry of having to maintain a proper balance or over population possibility of CNBG or RES. If panfish is a goal then BG or RES would need to stocked.

4. If fastest growth and production of really big HSB (5-6 lbs) quickly is not a necessity then just HSB & TFS and NO supplimental feeding would also work. I have no data on how fast HSB habituated to pellet feed will grow in a small pond with just HSB, and TFS &/or minnows as forage items. Note - Currently IMO - All HSB bought from a hatchery are habituated to pellets.

5. Presence of just HSB SHOULD not be a big deterrent to adding more HSB later especially if HSB are fed pellets and/or ample shad or minnows are present. In my experiences, when dealing with predatory fish that are habituated to pellets and are daily eating pellets, forage fish do not make up a big percentage of the pellet eating predator's diet. I am not aware of a big problem with adult HSB preying on smaller HSB. It proably occurs where 18"-24" HSB will eat 3"-4" HSB, but I think the consumption rate would be less compared to adult LMB preying on 4"-7" LMB. Thus it should be relatively successful to restock smaller readily available HSB into this HSB-TFS combination whenever the need arises.

6. If lots of panfishing is not a big or major part of the goal, why not stock only male BG in the HSB-TFS combination? 50-100 only male CNBG added over a 2-4 yr period would provide good occassional catch & release trophy (9"-11") panfishing in a 3/4 ac pond. Biggest problem with this is availability of just male BG. Darryl may have to raise BG in a cage until accurate sexing is possible then stock 15-25 male BG per year until he gets enough (50-200) adult BG. Hatcheries that sell adult BG MIGHT be willing to sell only males if a premium is paid. A hatchery that has adult BG and the personel cannot accurately separate male from female BG, then I question the competency of the hatchery staff. Those fish people then need fish sex ID lessons from Cody, Condello or Baird.

7. Darryl says: "predator type fish to go after occasionally on a quiet evening (without waiting 2 hrs for strike). The major problem with my stocking suggestion is that with 35-50 HSB in a 3/4 ac pond Darryl will not have any quiet evenings on his pond.!

8. I think that if my suggested combination were used there will be no problem converting this HSB-TFS-minnow fishery to one that includes LMB and CNBG/RES. All Darryl has to do is stock the required (LMB,BG,RES) species as fingerlings and enough should survive to eventually (5-10yrs later) the LMB-BG would dominate the fish community in his 3/4 pond based on his description of the current habitat in the pond.