I will continue to search and read here at PB for ladder stocking HBS, but wanted to get my particular pond environment explained and ask how to go about the process of keeping a HSB population with as little loss as possible.

My pond is 1/4 acre and was stocked last year with 40 HSB, 90 RES, and 500 HBG. The bass were about 12-13" long and weighed well over a pound as of late last fall. The HBG were around 1/4 pound and the RES are yet to be seen. The HSB are to help with the HBG populations and will be harvested as necessary for table fare.

I know I can easily get 4-6" HSB for ladder stocking, but unsure of anything larger available. From what I have read...ladder stocking about 5 to 10 a year seems appropriate, but how many to take out is an unknown at this point. Does the 5 to 10 a year seem correct given that 4-6" stockers could be eaten by the other HSB.?

I like the idea of cage raising until they grow out, but life is too busy this year to succeed with that.

Any thoughts and recommendations welcome,

Take out as you assess your goals. If HSB are small pull more out. If there is some HBG escaping predation add more.

Well, to get things kicked off this year, my assessment would be that my HSB are fat and happy and HBG recruitment seemed to be minimal last year. I am thinking that I should put some HSB in this year to account for the few that I might soon harvest or damage during the catch.

I believe the balance for this year is good. Should I be thinking about next year's balance and make an installment this year? If so, any thoughts on the quantity of 4-6 inchers?

How is the forage holding up? Ladder stocking is a good idea generally. Have you seen the thread on it?

I have seen the FHM's in low numbers in the shallows all winter long (2 to 3"). The stocked fish really took the FHM numbers down last year, but they should have another year left in them at good numbers. I contribute last years lack of feeding at the pellet feeder to the overabundance of minnows and fry available. This year I expect the feeding enthusiasm to increase.

Crawdad populations should be at their peak this year too. The adults outgrew my HSB last year which left a lot of breeders to produce YOY craws.

I have read several older threads on HSB and ladder stocking lately. A man named George G. really contributed a lot on the subject, but most of the links are no longer valid. Few of the ones I have found get into the actual concepts of ladder stocking them other than it seems to be a common practice. The most helpful thread I found talked more about stocking HSB in the pond with LMB...I don't have the LMB.

I'll keep searching.

Try these

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=347977&page=1 George on ladder stocking

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post347816 ladder stocking George

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92629#Post92629 early thread archive

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=111956&page=1 HSB mortality

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post163271 creating HSB

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=105243&page=1 Stocking HSB and LMB options info on predation by HSB and survival

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=190816&page=1 HSB stocking and SMB

Thanks for digging those up E!

Most of them I have seen, but I did find a tidbit hidden in there that states...

"We have reached our goal of developing a successful HSB program in our ponds, maintaining an annual stocking ladder” of at least 25/acre, 8-10 inchers, resulting in an on-going fishery of 1 - 5 lb HSB."

So, by going with George's recommendations...I will be looking at a quantity of 6, 8-10 inch HSB per year if i can source them. Otherwise, I gather 10 of the more common 4-6" fish could be a good starting point. I'll call around for the larger fish.

Assume you saw the mortality rates for stocking into a LMB pond.

Here is the data and the lost long Bruce/George HSB thread with ladder stocking.


Bruce :

I'd estimate risk of predation from largemouth as follows:

5 inch wiper--80% over one year in presence of LMB
6 inch wiper--65% over one year in presence of LMB
7 inch wiper--45% over one year in presence of LMB
8 inch wiper--15% over one year in presence of LMB
9 inch wiper--negligible mortality.


Your loss rates would IMO be much lower if all you have is larger adult HSB.