There are numerous highly probable risks of using crappie in smaller ponds. It has been successfully accomplished a few times by pondmiesters here and they have reported their results in past forum threads. However these success stories have not been recently updated. The long term success may not hold true. Be financially and emotionally prepared to completely renovate the entire fishery if the crappie become a problem as the pond ages past 8-12 yrs. . If you decide to stock some crappie and to lessen the risk of failure by all means use Hybrid Crappie (see link). Read carefully through the posts from our crappie topic from the Common Q&A Archives. Using hybrid crappie significantly lessen the chances of getting too many stunted slow growth crappie. Note when crappie stunt most of the other fish in the pond under-perform. Also in the discussions from the link pay very close attention to type and number of predators that were used with crappie.
https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92447#Post92447Basic Info on Hybrid Crappie
Rex Rains the fish hauler has access to hybrid crappie. The only research we've sourced states they will reproduce, but the F2's do not grow fast and are "inferior" and highly susceptible to predation from BG, YP - and in my case, SMB and HSB. I'm pretty leary of introducing mixed sex crappie into my watersheds regardless of whether they're hybrids or not...can anyone confirm or dismiss my fears of overpopulation in regards to hybrid crappie?
https://malonelake.com/hybrid-crappie-pondshttps://malonelake.com/new-pondsHYBRID CRAPPIE. Hybrid crappie are the first generation cross between a black crappie and a white crappie. The resulting hybrid displays limited reproduction and increased growth.
Early research indicates that hybrid crappie populations are 50% male and 50% female and are capable of producing large numbers of offspring. However, the offspring of hybrid crappie are inferior in terms of growth and are readily controlled (eaten) by bass and bluegill. Therefore, when stocking hybrid crappie in ponds with bass and bluegill very few baby crappie will survive, preventing overpopulation. In a ten year study conducted in Illinois, ponds stocked with hybrid crappie, bass and bluegill, the hybrid crappie were unable to maintain their population (take over the pond).
The same research indicates and F1 Hybrid Crappie grow faster and weigh more than both black crappie and white crappie.
The Hybrid Crappie is new to pond stocking and there is still a great deal to learn about them. Stock 300 Hybrid Crappie per acre and be sure to stock bass and bluegill with them to control reproduction. Due to their limited reproduction Hybrid Crappie will need to be restocked periodically.
The Hybrid Crappie produced by J.M. Malone and Son, Inc. is the original cross between an Arkansas Black Nosed Black Crappie* male and a white crappie female resulting in a hybrid crappie with a black stripe running down its nose. This black stripe is not an indication that a crappie is a hybrid crappie. Therefore, be advised when purchasing hybrid crappie, just because it has a black stripe on its nose does not make it a hybrid crappie.
