Hi,
New pond stocked back in April with 3000 1-3in bluegill and 50 pounds minnows.
Bluegill now appear to be in the 4-6 in range and are growing exceptionally maybe too exceptionally.
We are on track to stock fingering bass this July.
Goal is to have some biggg bass
HERE’s my concern
My fathead minnows appear to be MIA
My bluegill will be 6-8 inches by the end of the year and my bass will maybe reach 10 in. Are the bass supposed to somehow eat these monster bluegill? I DON’T want a pond filled with skinny bass and 3000 trophy bluegill. Maybe instead of fingerling bass I should stock adults?… Spent a lot of money and did the stocking the hatchery recommended and maybe I’m overreacting but I don’t see any way a 1/2 pound bass is gonna eat a 8 in bluegill.
Thoughts and input would be greatly appreciated. Please let me know if somehow we have faltered in this stocking process and/or what we can do to correct it.
Thanks!
July is to hot IMO for advanced fingerling LMB stocking in TX. Wait until late Sept and stock fewer 8-10 in. LMB. They will feed on new BG ( those spawned by the 4-6 in BG you see now) in the 2-3 inch range by fall. As a general rule do not harvest (nor have them eaten as prey) your original stocker BG or LMB.
If you are feeding try and get feed trained LMB.
Depending on your goals stock 20-25 advanced stocker LMB per acre. How big is the pond?
