Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Forage Fish

What is the best choice for a supplemental forage fish in a BG CC LMB pond? I was wanting a fish that would take some pressure off the BG in the pond. The pond is 2 acres and located in Belleville IL about 30 min from St. Louis MO so we get some pretty cold winters. I want a fish that has little risk of overpopulating but will reproduce in a small pond.

Last summer I removed about 80 LMB from the pond but they have not responded to the decrease in population like I would expect. This summer I have removed 15 so far. The ones I'm removing range from 8-11 inches.

overall goal for the pond is healthy LMB. I would love to produce some monsters but I think I need to walk before I run.

Are tilapia available up where you are? You may need to breed your own, but they are by far the best supplemental forage for LMB that won't overpopulate due to the fact they die off when the water gets below 50 or 60 degrees.

thanks for the suggestion. now i have another question. How do you breed your own? What kind of equipment do you need? If I can't get Talapia It may be good to breed my own fatheads or some other forage fish. So far I have never seen Talapia at any fish farms around this area but i'll keep looking. Fish farms in this area are pretty basic (BG, CC, HBG, Triploid Carp, FHM etc)

Brett

You can get some fish farms to send you some 1-2" Tilapia via FedEx or UPS. Then grow them out bigg enough so they can start reproducing or until they are big enough that the bass can't eat them. It doesn't take too long.

Some of the guys from the lone star state should know of some tilapia suppliers.

Brett...

Check the thread about "Raising Tilapia" on the "Raising Forage and Bait" thread. It should be able to answer your questions about how to get them to spawn. As far as getting the fish goes, check with some of the fish suppliers that advertise in Pond Boss magazine. I am sure one of them could overnight you some tilapia if you can't find them local. The trick you would need to do would be to try and save 10-20 of them before they die in the fall so that you can restock without having to order them in the spring. For that, you need to get your hands on something to keep them in and a heater to keep the water above 60 degrees. When spring comes, you could take the fish you saved out and release them in your pond.

ezylman,
Do you have a link for that thread? I just tried looking through that section, but couldn't find it.

I could not find a thread titled "Raising Tilapia" in the Forage and Bait section, or anywhere on the forum in the last year. Perhaps a different title?

Tilapia Project by Texas715

Doh... Sorry guys. That is what happens when I try and multi-task. Thanks for the save Dave.

what are the advantages of Talapia over FHM? I know FHM usualy get devoured pretty quickly but if you replace them with FHM that are bread in a stock tank wouldn't that be just as good as talapia? I may be showing my newness with this question I just want to know all the pro's and con's to the options.

Here's three advantages to Tilapia:

1. Tilapia get much, much bigger than FHM, providing better meals for big bass.

2. Tilapia breed fast enough to outpace LMB predation, whereas FHM will be wiped out by LMB sooner or later (usually sooner).

3. Tilapia are living, eating proof that God's Tropical/Subtropical Fish Design Department truly dislikes FA.

Brett...

Another thing that Theo didn't mention is that Tilapia eat pellets and grow quickly. At the end of the season you can seine out your big ones and filet them up. You can start removing the big ones when your water temperature gets around 65 degrees. That way you can get them out before the cold kills them. The are the same fish that sell for $4 and $5 a pound around here. It is a very mild white meat with no fishy flavor. Really quite tasty with a good beer batter.

Thanks for all the great info. Now I just need to make sure that it is legal to stock Tilapia in private ponds in IL. I think I will have to wait till next year to get started on this project. By the time I get the tilapia and get them big enough to breed and then get my first fry hatch it will be fall and the water will be 60 degrees. This will be fun. My wife will be thrilled to hear about my next pond project (sarcasm). Actualy this might just peak her interest in the pond. She loves to eat Tilapia.

Thanks again

What happens in a pond where the water temp does not go below the level needed to kill the tilapia? Will they become a problem?

Hey, the best thing I can tell you about shiners is that most hatcheries will stock them in the spring and fall. During the summer they get too soft and tend to die off easily. So I would recommend stocking them around march, april or may. Then again in the fall usually after september.
As far as how often, well most people stock them each year because they don't have enough cover for their shiners. Cover should be in water 4-6 at the deepest.
I hope this helps.....

Hey Theo,
Why is it that people decide to recommend Tilapia for farm ponds? As a professional I find it ridiculous that people even mention them on here. Yeah they might work, but ask Florida how well they work. Heck in most states they are illegal.......

Last I checked I believe GS and FM work just fine.
Brett

Tilapia breed faster, get bigger, and EAT FA LIKE COTTON CANDY.

I've never counted or seen an all-states comparison; it is my impression that Tilapia are legal in about 1/2 the states, and probably a higher % down South where they have a longer warm season that really let's them kick algae and take names.

BJ, tilapia are just another tool. I have never stocked them at my place but have for others. So far, they have always been an asset, never a liability.