Hi everyone, it’s been a while but I am starting to manage my pond again. We built a house before and during Covid ..UGH.
So I am about to add 1000 bluegill and 200 red eared sunfish And a bunch of minnows to my pond in hopes to bring back my lmb population. I had a fish kill last year. I fished the pond and have a few pretty healthy looking 12 to 16 ounce largemouth bass. My question is when the new fish are put in the pond how do I keep the birds like the blue heron from eating them while they are still acclimating to the new pond. My pond is about 1 acre right now and goes to about an acre and a half when it is full
Many thank, Rick
Ps With the help of this forum from about 2009 to 2015 I got it to the point where my Friends grandson could catch 8 pound largemouth bass.

They will acclimate fairly quickly without a lot of pressure from predation. Problem with a net block is concentrating fish for avian predators. If you have lots of bass laying in wait, it's a double-edged sword.
May I ask what size BG/RES you are stocking?

900 Cnbg and 200 Res Fingerlings 1-2”

After more considering…
Also adding
200 mosquito minnows .75-3”
2000 Fathead minows .75-2”

Lost most fish last year, so not heavy on bass right now

Those "pretty healthy" 12-16 (oz) bass will be working on some of those fish. If accessible the birds may take a few also.
If you can stock groups in places there is decent dense cover you can minimize "some" of that until habituated.
Sometimes it's best to hide under the bed until you can come up with options.. fish do something similar.