How Many Ponds Do You Need er Want? - 05/25/06 01:18 AM
I got to contemplating this week - how many ponds do I need? What are all the different uses I could possibly have for ponds? Given unlimited funds, pond sites, and time, what different pond stocking schemes and goals could I come up with that I would be interested in trying? Writing down a list of my pond options has helped me prioritize my interests and plan for an eventual second pond.
How many ponds do you "need"? Think about it, and list them. Aside from conversation, I figure this is a useful exercise for figuring out what to do with extra ponds and providing esoteric stocking ideas for adventurous pondmeisters. (Did I say "extra" ponds? How silly that makes it sound like you could have too many! :rolleyes: )
To assist in planning uses for different sizes of ponds, I have used the following rough size scale:
Extra Small (XS) = less than 0.5 acre
Small (S) = 0.5 to 1.0 acre
Medium (M) = 1 to 3 acres
Large (L) = 3 to 10 acres
Extra Large (XL) = greater than 10 acres
I figure I could get by with "only" 8 or 9 ponds. Here they are; the working names, sizes, stocking species, and particulars of all the ponds I "need":
1) Your Basic Pond Size S or M
Species = FHM, Gambusia, BG, RES, CC, LMB, HSB, (GC as needed)
Feeding: Useful but not essential
Goal: "Balanced" pond where you have the chance to catch several different kinds of fish on any cast.
2) Big Bass Pond Size M or L
Species = FHM, Gambusia, GShiners, BG, RES, LMB, (GC as needed)
Feeding: Useful but not essential
Goal: Growing big (but not necessarily "trophy" sized) LMB.
3) Big Bream Boys Pond Size XS
Species = FHM, Gambusia, Male BG, Male RES (feed trained if possible)
Feeding: Yes
Goal: Fun, amazement, and prize stallion selection.
4) Forage Pond Size XS
Species = FHM, Gambusia
Feeding: No
Goal: Forage and forage broodstock propagation, via seining/trapping, for other ponds.
5) Planet Redear Size XS or S
Species = FHM, Gambusia, RES (feed trained if possible), LMB/HSB as needed, (GC as needed)
Feeding: Yes, if RES are feed trained
Goal: RES to transfer by catch/seining to replenish RES population in other ponds.
6) Hybrid Hotel Size S
Species = FHM, Gambusia, HBG, HSB, (LMB as needed), (GC as needed)
Feeding: Yes
Goal: Fun and Food.
7) Hybrid BG Love Shack Size XS
Species = FHM, Gambusia, Male BG, Female RES(feed trained if possible), HSB, (LMB as needed)
Feeding: Yes
Goal: Hybrid BGxRES to transfer by catch/seining to replenish pond 6 above.
8) Smallmouth Pond Size M or L
Species = FHM, Gambusia, RES, (GShiner?), (BG?), (YP?)
Feeding: Probably not
Goal: Bronzeback Action.
9) Experiment 13 Size XS
Species, Feeding, Goal: If I tell you, I have to kill you.
_______________________________________________________________________
So - how many ponds do you need (or actually, want )?
How many ponds do you "need"? Think about it, and list them. Aside from conversation, I figure this is a useful exercise for figuring out what to do with extra ponds and providing esoteric stocking ideas for adventurous pondmeisters. (Did I say "extra" ponds? How silly that makes it sound like you could have too many! :rolleyes: )
To assist in planning uses for different sizes of ponds, I have used the following rough size scale:
Extra Small (XS) = less than 0.5 acre
Small (S) = 0.5 to 1.0 acre
Medium (M) = 1 to 3 acres
Large (L) = 3 to 10 acres
Extra Large (XL) = greater than 10 acres
I figure I could get by with "only" 8 or 9 ponds. Here they are; the working names, sizes, stocking species, and particulars of all the ponds I "need":
1) Your Basic Pond Size S or M
Species = FHM, Gambusia, BG, RES, CC, LMB, HSB, (GC as needed)
Feeding: Useful but not essential
Goal: "Balanced" pond where you have the chance to catch several different kinds of fish on any cast.
2) Big Bass Pond Size M or L
Species = FHM, Gambusia, GShiners, BG, RES, LMB, (GC as needed)
Feeding: Useful but not essential
Goal: Growing big (but not necessarily "trophy" sized) LMB.
3) Big Bream Boys Pond Size XS
Species = FHM, Gambusia, Male BG, Male RES (feed trained if possible)
Feeding: Yes
Goal: Fun, amazement, and prize stallion selection.
4) Forage Pond Size XS
Species = FHM, Gambusia
Feeding: No
Goal: Forage and forage broodstock propagation, via seining/trapping, for other ponds.
5) Planet Redear Size XS or S
Species = FHM, Gambusia, RES (feed trained if possible), LMB/HSB as needed, (GC as needed)
Feeding: Yes, if RES are feed trained
Goal: RES to transfer by catch/seining to replenish RES population in other ponds.
6) Hybrid Hotel Size S
Species = FHM, Gambusia, HBG, HSB, (LMB as needed), (GC as needed)
Feeding: Yes
Goal: Fun and Food.
7) Hybrid BG Love Shack Size XS
Species = FHM, Gambusia, Male BG, Female RES(feed trained if possible), HSB, (LMB as needed)
Feeding: Yes
Goal: Hybrid BGxRES to transfer by catch/seining to replenish pond 6 above.
8) Smallmouth Pond Size M or L
Species = FHM, Gambusia, RES, (GShiner?), (BG?), (YP?)
Feeding: Probably not
Goal: Bronzeback Action.
9) Experiment 13 Size XS
Species, Feeding, Goal: If I tell you, I have to kill you.
_______________________________________________________________________
So - how many ponds do you need (or actually, want )?