Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations tweeking fish varieties

Hello, I have an 8 yr. old pond 1.5 acres 12 ft deep with areation and I hand feed. We have many nice sized LMB mostly 3lb. with some smaller ones, also guessing about twenty, 5-7 lb Ch Catfish, maybee fifty 1 lb.HSB and countless bluegill, many which are nice size.
My question is should I leave well enough alone, or could I add some RES and Hybrid Bluegill for diversity? Also should I be afraid of the hybrid bluegill reverting back to Green Sunfish? What is an ideal number of catfish to maintain? I have little structure for shelter and will work on this also. Thanks, Kevin

If it were me I would find the largest RES you can find to stock and then let some natural hybridization between the RES & BG occur on it's own.

HBG will not revert back to GSF. OTOH, they will likely be a disppointment next to BG, "many which are nice size."

RES (as large as possible to escape predation) would be indeed good to introduce.

What is your primary purpose for the CC? That has a big impact on the size and numbers of them that might be optimum.

I would find some adult RES (both sexes) and add them (about 50 total). I would not add HBG in your situation as they don't add anything they just take up space and food. If your numbers are right you could reduce the CC by about 1/3 to make room for more growth in the other fish.

The best advice is to learn to survey the pond as per this link.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92492#Post92492

and learn about carrying capacity - see this link

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92440#Post92440

I too would add RES, in my opinion, they have more mass and fight harder than a BG of the same age class. Plus they reduce possible parasites.

I'm not so sure I would worry about the cats (although ewest is almost always right) if you are feeding and aeration is present, your 12 ft. depth is working to your advantage. Assuming you harvest a few of the large cats & LMB or two for a fish fry every now and then, I would leave everything alone...easing the HSB into the 2-3 lb class. There are Relative Weight charts for HSB, if they are reaching their potential, you are doing fine.