Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Newly stocked Bluegill and Catfish.

I had Blugill and Catfish stocked in my new pond in October the bluegill where about the size of my fingernail and the catfish where probably 2" long.

I look around the banks all the time but I haven't seen any since I put them in there.

Is this normal?
How big would they be by now?

scsims,
I also stocked bg last Oct. Mine were 1" to 2" max. I have only spotted them a couple of times since. I saw them a few weeks ago all schooled up in the upper end of the pond. Hard to tell exactly but it looked like most had grown to around 3". I don't think its unusual not to see them thru the colder months. I expect pretty rapid growth from here on as the weather warms and I am starting to feed them.

If you do not see them after a few nice hot days here soon then start to worry. Bet they will start to show soon. They grow little if any of thewinter so still small, but they will grow quickly once it warms.

scsims,
It sounds like you got a bunch of cheap fish from the state... I did that as well....I guess it is OK you get what you pay for. I will be getting more blue gill soon Greg what can you do about 1000 2 to 3 inch coppernose? Also I will need about 500 shell cracker, 2 to 3 inches

I didn't see any this weekend and it was warm. If I don't see them soon should I put more in there?

I am just now starting to see the bluegill around the banks here in North Alabama. I was getting worried that the bass had got em all but saw a couple hundred 1-2 inch gills this weekend. Give it a couple weeks and bet you'll be seeing them.

Bob

Still looking and I haven't seen any schools of blue gills but I think I have spotted one or two. Could have been tadpole, but it sure look like a fish.

I'll let yall know if i see them soon.

I haven't seen mine in awhile either. Seeing lots of fatheads and tadpoles so I'm not real worried.

I have not seen any yet either...I did stock 2 to 3 inch Coppernose this past saturday and 2 to 3 inch redbreast as well. I hope to see some bream fry SOON!!

Still no sightings.

How big is your pond and how many, and do the feed on live bait, catfish did you stock? I stocked 350 1 1/4" fish, which included two catfish, about 6 weeks ago, the largest fish other than the cats is now about 4". The cat is 8" and is eating the smallest of the other fish. I feed the others , but the cat has never eaten any of the food. I say cat because I believe the second one has died. My water is always very warm.

My pond is .62 acre. I 300 very small bluegill and 50 2" catfish in this past October. I still have yet to see a single fish. I've tried fishing with a bobber and worm just to see if I would get a nibble. But nothing.

Do you all think I should consider restocking or should I give it more time to see if they begin to show themselves?

scsims ,

More than likely they are still in there. What's your water temps? Give it more time, when water temps get up to 70 or so they should begin to show in force.

I'm not sure what the water temp is. But it's been in the 70s and low 80s here for the last week during the day, I thought they would be showing themselves by now.

I agree with you. I think you should be seeing something by now. I'd give it another week and then restock.

Editing now. I would talk to neighboring pondowners to see what their situation is.

I checked the water temp this evening at about 7pm, it was at 67, so maybe they will come out soon.

I stocked bluegill and catfish last May. I fed them game chow by hand last summer and fall. I started feeding again daily the beginning of March. The catfish have only been feeding in force for about a week. I am about 30 miles north of Louisville. Last fall I caught some 4 - 6 inch catfish on waxworms trying to sample the bluegills.

Still nothing, but my water has been a little cloudy lately since my ducks moved in so I haven't been able to see as far into the pond.

I have seen nothing as well....these are fish from the state. My only gues is the blue cats I stock at the same time as the bream. This is what the state thinks as well...

scsims,
it sounds like you may not have stocked enough fish and/or they have found a spot in deeper water away from the bank they prefer. You may want to stock some more. I have a 1/2 acre pond where 2 years ago,I put in a bit too much bluestone and killed a lot of fish. Then I caught fish from other ponds and transfered all of them into where the fish were killed. I am now seeing small bream and bass about as long as my hand. I would suggest giving them more time or stocking more fish