So slowly I've been taking control of my pond and I think I'm ready to stock!

In my 1/2 acre pond currently there are 2-3 large Koi, 6 grass carp, potentially some black catfish, and several hundred (if not thousands) of goldfish.

I'd like to be able to fish in the pond and know the goldfish need a predator.

I'm thinking of stocking LMB and BG and given the current population I'm not sure I'd need anything else this year.

So a couple of questions given this: 1) what should I consider stocking and in what quantity? 2) any recommendations on a fishery in the Ashland, VA area?

I had bad algae problems the first year, better second, and hoping for even better this year. I also have a fair amount of grass (hence the GC).

Thanks!

I'm curious, how big are those gold fish? When I was growing up a neighbor had a pond full of them and some were easily a pound to pound and a half.

Hey Bill.

They are "normal" size for the most part. I see a few that are getting bigger, but most are minnow size. Perfect bait!

I see yer in Virginia so I am not sure how warm your summertime water temp gets...FWIW I would at least think about some of the smaller mouth gap predator options with that kind of forage, like SMB, YP and WE, if yer water doesn't get too hot in the summer..... but I am not a pro. One will be along soon I am sure to offer some thoughts. Do you have a specific goal in mind, i.e. always wanted to raise LMB, BG, etc?

Good Luck!

Carolina Hatchery will be at BPS on April 11. They sell bass and bg. and are good people.

Yo Kenc - long time, good to see you posting again.

Any updates? Keep us in the loop - miss you around here amigo.

Yeah, I found them when Googling, unfortunately that day won't work for me. BUMMER!

Actually....I might be able to make the Caroline Hatchery work.

They recommend the following for a 1/2 acre pond, what do you guys think???

350 1-3 Bluegill
150 1-3" Shellcracker
50 3-5 Catfish
50 3" Largemouth Bass
3 Lbs. Fathead Minnows
$380.00

Given that I have so many goldfish, I'm not sure I need the Minnows.

Anyway, what do you think? What about Bill's comments about smaller mouth gap fish?

Vaaccess -

That recommendation seems high for a 1/2 acre pond - specifically the 50 catfish and 50 largemouth bass. 100 predators will dine on your goldfish and the new forage fish right quick perhaps.

What are your goals for the pond?

Do you want big bass?

Do you want catfish for eating?

IMO you really need larger bass (5"-8") so they can right away start eating the smallest goldfish(GF). Initially I would omit all but a few of the bgill (20-25)and shellcracker(RES)(20-25). BG & RES are forage fish and since you have lots of goldfish at this point you don't need more forage fish. Add just enough BG-RES to establish some breeders. Then as the GF are reduced the BG-RES numbers should increase.

You might want to add the FHM to provide the bass some food right away so they grow to the 5"-8" sizes and can then eat GF. Also consider adding a few more bass (+5-15) to provide extra predation of the goldfish so you more quickly reduce GF numbers. Then remove some bass (10-25) when goldfish are few or scarce to allow the BG RES to continue reproducing and adding more of themselves. If you are not going to clean and eat catfish do not add them. You can always add them later if needed.

Initially you may have to help the bass reduce goldfish. You can catch goldfish with small hooks and worms or doughballs for bait. Baited minnow traps work good for removing smaller goldfish. If you have lots of goldfish, your water is likely also turbid from all of them actively working the bottom for food. As you get the goldfish numbers reduced to a few the water should become clearer.

Ok, let's start with my goals. I want a ecosystem that sustains itself well enough. I'm fine doing this or that, adding fish every year to re-balance a bit, but don't want to go overboard. I don't plan to pellet feed except maybe with kids that want to throw some food out or something just for fun.

While I do plan to fish, I don't think I'll fish it all the time. I honestly hadn't considered eating the fish, but I guess it makes sense to do so. It's not a goal, but something I would try. I typically eat more cold-water fish. (tuna, sea bass, salmon, etc)

I do agree that the quantities seemed excessive honestly and appreciate that feedback.

I'm fine skipping the catfish for now as well, especially since I think I might have one or two anyway.

So it would seem something more like this?

25 1-3" Bluegill
25 1-3" Shellcracker
0 Catfish
25 3" Largemouth Bass
15 4-6 Largemouth Bass
3 Lbs. Fathead Minnows

BTW...A couple of things I forgot to mention in general.
1) We have two very large Koi (one died last year)
2) We only have a couple of box turtles in the area.
3) I want to help promote a balanced environment to reduce grass (why I added the grass carp last year) and reduce algae imbalance that can happen easily.
4) I add "good" bacteria and have been adding coloring to the pond to help reduce UV light to the grass.

Thanks for the help!

Your stocking plan appears much better IMO based on your goals. You may have to look around for a few larger bass 4"-6" (optional) and adding them I think will be beneficial. If you can't find the larger bass then just stock 55-65 3" bass and increase FHMinnows to 5 lbs. When bass have gold fish numbers so you rarely see a small goldfish then remove 20 bass. They are good pretty eating especially when you catch them in cooler water of Apr-May, Oct-Nov. Try a few.

Ugh. So I missed Carolina Hatchery's route because I was on vacation.

I called Zetts in WV and they have a $500 Min + $100 Delivery fee to me.

I exchanged some emails with Mid-Atlantic stocking from NY, they deliver to within a couple of hours of my home, but not close enough honestly.

Do you guys know of any other places I should consider that might deliver to the Central VA area? I may consider driving, but have a hard time fitting in 4+ hours of driving with family stuff that's going on...

Thanks!

Always make time for your fish - driving is worth it! Take the family, I bet they'd have a blast at the hatchery. My Dad would have had to cuff me and drag me back to the car I'd wager.

Yeah, ideally it would be great to do that, but weekdays are not possible and weekends are swamped. Unfortunately I just wouldn't be able to make it happen for a few months at the earliest given everything going on.