Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Redear stocking

I'm going to stock some adult redear this spring. Can someone tell me what I can expect to pay for adult res. Last year I paid 65 cents ea. for my 3-5" bg. That was about avg. price for bg. in this area.

To add to the last post; I got ahold of the supplier, and they don't carry adult res. Only 1-2" fish. My lake has an established bass pop. And on the 2 large spawning beds I have found, I've only seen 4 large res. About 2 lbs ea. I do have alot of snails, and this is why I'd like some more res. The 1-2" res. are $48.50 per 250. Pedation will take care of alot of these fish if stocked. My bg. pop. is good btw, so my dilema is how many will survive, and how many should be stocked? Would 500 be too much for a 5 ac. lake? There is plenty of cover in the form of coontail, and laydowns. This is where I've seen alot of the snails.

Not a pro, but why not consider making or buying a net to raise your fish...feed them and then let them go after they get bigger. I know last year I made a net that was 4' by 4' which after all the supplies cost about $100. However, I still have tons of netting left, which was my major cost. In fact, I could probably make 10 more nets the same size. I'm not sure what they run in stores but I'm guessing around $100+. Hopefully some of the guys who have experience with this will chime in. Also I'm not sure about redears being cage raised....never heard of it, but possibly worth a try.

Triton

Redears won't easily take to pellet feed...that's why not many fish farms have adult sizes.

I like the idea of raising them to adulthood myself, but since like Mike and many others have said, they don't take to pellets real good, and since they're diet is mainly snails, small crayfish, and other small shelled creatures, it would be hard to keep them fed. I may just get 500 and take my chances.

Pretty funny, I just got home from selling 1,500 4-6 inch redear today. I sold them for $.75 $.10 higher than same size bluegill. I had been looking for a source of redear this size for three years. My dealer is getting them out of Arkansas and said it takes three years to get them to this size so surprised I did not have to pay even more for them. I have stocked the smaller 1-2 inch redear before and seen some survivial so you wnat to try that. I wish we had an economic way to get you some of these fish. I think I have another 3-4K sold. Hope that helps.

Guys, I appear to have Redears or a real close hybrid in my pond. Granted I have a population of snails and crayfish but after 4 years these fish are huge! I'm talking 2 1/2 - 3 lbs and I have proof. Now I don't know about the southeast, but in northern California they grow real big. I can't think that trying them is a bad idea. I doubt that they will be a dominant species, but catching a 2+ lb Sunfish type is something you won't soon forget. I have a picture of a 2 1/2+ pounder for those who are interested. Go for it.
Jim

I would like to see the picture.

Check your email - picture sent today
Jim

Greg, I think I'll take a chance on stocking the 1-2" res. I already have a good b/g pop. and that should keep predation of the res. down.What the heck, for $90 it's worth a shot.

Folks I've seen it. It sure looks like a redear to me. And boys it's huge!

Here's the reasoning behind my wanting to stock more RES. I pulled out a beer bottle from the lake last spring, right after we bought the place, It was covered with snails! OK. Later this summer while feeding the bg, I did notice a few b-gills with white spots on them, only a few. From what I've read here on P.B. Thats an indication of snail larvae useing the bg as a host. And since the only RES I've seen were huge, well fed, I would have to say I have a snail pop. to keep even more RES well fed. Thus keeping the snail pop. in check. :p

WHERE IN NORTHERN CA. DO YOU RAISE THE BIG REDEAR ?

Jerry:
I'm in Potter Valley, near Ukiah.
Jim