Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Will Walleye reproduce in a large Indiana pond?

We have a 4 ac pond that has some gravel on the bottom, and is spring fed. Its as much as 18 feet deep in some places but averages much less, maybe 15 feet. We also have an aeration system. We have a large LMB and BG population, a small channel cat, crappie and carp population, and was wondering if we stock Walleye if they have a chance to survive and reproduce? Any other sport fish anyone would recommend we try? Thanks in advance.

With a large LMB and BG population, even if they eggs were to survive and hatch, the odds of the fry surviving to be fingerlings and the fingerlings survive to be caught would be very unlikely. Factors such as submerged aquatic growth type and coverage, how balanced the LMB population currently is and other forage available would factor into their survival rates. Why are you so concerned with natural reproduction? Obtaining fingerling WE in IN isn't very hard. Just restock every couple of years. Then you can control exact numbers of WE in the pond.

CJ, don't ya think that with an already established population of LMB that fingerlings would just be an expensive snack? I know "it all depends" but I would think depending on the size of the Bass, ya might need to pen-cage raise some to a pretty good size. I can't remember exactly but I saw a pic of something like a 18" Bass chocked on an 11" Bass

Largemouth prefer their meals to be 1/3 of their own size (I think that's what it was) and with the fusiform shape of walleye, fingerlings would definitely fall into that category. You would probably be better off stocking advanced sizes. From what I've read, I don't believe walleye do well, at least they don't grow quickly, in cages.

Thanks for the comments. We have very few channel cat so almost two years ago I put in 100 albino channels that were good size, about 8 or 9 inches, maybe 10", and I don't think any of them survived. Our pond is very clear so I probably need to add some more cover and structures to keep the LMB from being such prolific eaters.

Sounds like WE might be hard to keep and so I might look into some sterile muskie or something that can fend for itself and provide some LMB control and the occasional fun catch.

Brian, you are going to have to be the LMB control, or some other angler. The problem with other larger predator fish, hoping that they will prey on LMB is that they don't understand when you tell them "only eat LMB".

If your LMB are 16"-18" then the stocker walleye and muskie should be 9"-10" and better 12" long for good high percentage survival. Bass will easily eat the 6"-8" stocker WE and muskie. Smaller stocker walleye or muskie are very expensive fish food at $2.50-$4 each as bass food and it would be cheaper to feed the bass sirloin or t-bone steak. LMB even 14"-15"ers are aggressive predators with big mouths and they will not mind if the tail of a slender round body of a WE or muskie sicks out of their mouth for a day while they digest the front half.

What a way to go Bill. Half digested while the other half is sticking out of it's mouth.

WE stocker prices have come down a bit up here, but still, those are some expensive LMB snacks.

We just had an article in PB about LMB predation on stocked WE. The survival % go way up if the WE are habituated (low predation after 24 hours).

Not going to do this often. Here is a freebee on PB. Buy a subscription.


THE CUTTING EDGE – SCIENCE REVIEW

By Eric West


Walleye stocking - new info


Stocking new fish into a pond or lake with existing adult predators is a common concern with fisheries managers. How big do the new stockers need to be and can habituation make survival more likely are common questions. Species interaction questions are a key factor in answering these short term questions as well as understanding the long term chances of success. Walleyes are numerically among the most stocked fish in the USA, yet stocking success of this species is highly variable. Stocking walleye into existing waters with adult largemouth bass is the focus of this edition but it will address some other points on stocking generally and walleye stocking specifically.


A new study entitled Largemouth Bass Predation Effect on Stocked Walleye Survival in Illinois Impoundments by Jonathan A. Freedman, R. John H. Hoxmeier, Lisa M. Einfalt , Ronald C. Brooks and David H. Wahl in the North American Journal of Fisheries Management 32:1039–1045, 2012 American Fisheries Society contains some fascinating information on stocking walleye and other fish . The study examined the effects of predation by largemouth bass on walleyes across 77 stocking events in 10 Illinois impoundments of various sizes from roughly 13 to 800 acres over 7 years. Walleyes were stocked as small fingerlings (45 mm TL – 1.77 inches) at a target density of 40/acre or as large fingerlings (100 mm TL – 3.94 inches) at 30/acre. Interestingly, and likely contrary to what most pond misters think , the study found walleye predation mortality for up to 21 days post stocking at only 4.3% attributable to largemouth bass predation. Largemouth bass predation was greatest within 24 hours of stocking, and no predation was observed after 14 days.


The authors citing a number of prior studies provide the following points in this paragraph. Many factors can influence survival of stocked fish, including population structure of both prey and predators. Density, size and competition of prey can affect growth and survival of stocked fish. When fish are initially stocked into a system, they may become easy prey for predators due to disorientation and stress. Most hatcheries rear fish in plain concrete tanks or ponds, although fish reared in enriched tanks may have higher post stocking feeding and survival rates. Fish are often stocked at one location in a lake (e.g., a boat ramp or dock) and may have limited dispersal from this site, thus potentially creating artificially high densities of naive prey and increasing predator feeding efficiency. Stocked fish may therefore be more vulnerable to predation than natural populations, with highest predation effects within 30 d of stocking. Predation on stocked fish is highly variable and may depend on the species and size of fish stocked, as well as predator community composition and size structure. Spiny-rayed fishes are less vulnerable to predation than soft-rayed species. Species such as walleye, saugeye, and largemouth bass thus have lower predation mortality than pikes and salmon. Likewise,

larger size at stocking has generally been linked to higher survival for a number of species although some studies of walleye have found that environmental and biological conditions of stocked lakes can be more important than size at stocking.


One study of walleye stocking in multiple lakes across 11 years in Wisconsin that found survival of stocked walleyes to be inversely correlated with largemouth bass numbers. Timing of predation is consistent with an earlier study that found 76% of walleyes eaten by largemouth bass were consumed within 48 hours. Predation losses of saugeyes stocked into reservoirs in Ohio similarly approached zero after 14 days, although residual mortality due to predation was assumed to occur for an additional 6 weeks. Predation on a number of other stocked fishes, including largemouth bass, bluegill, trout, musky, tiger musky and channel catfish is also highest soon after stocking.


This study found no differences between predation rates on small and large walleye fingerlings stocked into the same impoundments. However both sizes stocked were small (less than 4 inches). Previous studies on a number of other introduced fishes have generally found higher predation rates on small fish. Another study however, found mean mortality due to largemouth bass predation increased from 6% for 57-mm (2.25 inch) walleyes to 17% for 140-mm (5.5 inch) walleyes stocked into a small Illinois impoundment, but was 0% for 205-mm (8 inch) walleyes.


While this study did not detect largemouth bass predation on walleyes in 42 (54.5%) of stockings , it is important to note that just because largemouth bass did not overly effect stocker walleye survival other items did. Stocked fish may also experience losses through other mechanisms, such as thermal or transport stress, low feeding rates, emigration, or natural mortality. In this study many stocking events resulted in no/low survival of stocked walleyes to the fall (mean survival of 2.6 %).


Here are some points to think about before your next stocking. Abundant prey may increase competition with small stocker fingerlings and thus contribute to low survival of stocked fish, but prey may also moderate predator effects. Modification of rearing habitat (blocking nets, plants, brush piles etc) increases survival of stocked fish and should be implemented when possible to improve stocking success. Size at stocking of fish including walleyes has been shown to be correlated with survival. Higher predation mortality of fish stocked in summer than autumn has been attributed to several factors related to higher temperatures: increased thermal stress, cold blooded predators having higher metabolic rates (and thus higher feeding rates), and predators and prey (including stocked fish) concentrated in inshore areas due to thermal stratification. It is critical to habituate (protect with a net or cage or abundant brush) newly stocked fish until they become acclimated. This single act can greatly increase survival of fish stocked into waters with existing predators. Habituation plus using larger sized stocker fish is your best chance of effectuating a successful supplemental stocking of walleye and most other pond fish.

For the above study keep in mind that the walleye stocked were 2" -4" long. Another important factor is these fish were stocked into larger water bodies than typical ponds that we have with most Pond Boss members. The importance of this is bass density in ponds is often higher in ponds than larger waters (>13ac) which leads to a greater chance of the stocked fingerlings encontering a bass in a small pond compared to a larger water body. In a smaller pond whenever a person approaches the shoreline most all the nearby fish become aware of your presence especially if pellet feeding occurs. Humans along the shoreline often spook fish from shallows to deeper water and predators are aware and accustomed to this activity. The amount of cover and habitat as noted in the article above are also very important factors as refuge areas that strongly affect survival of stocked fish. Number of fish stocked per acre (40 & 30/ac) could also affect the number that survive.

Yes differences with ponds. Key is bigger WE and habituation.

I agree, stocking 4" fingerlings would most likely be an expensive snack. Stocking advanced sized fingerlings in the 9" range which are often available in the fall, would lead to higher survival rates.

I have stocked WE in my NY 3/4 acre pond w/ a 17' depth. I have about 6 2-3# bass that seem to hang in the windblown shallows. The previous weekend I would stock minnows, and shiners. The WE stocked have been 8-12". Growth rates have been good up to 22". I got some reproduction this year after 4 years of stocking WE. Hope that helps.

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm going to continue to research this issue before making the jump to WE stocking, but if I get larger ones to start and work on the habitat it sounds like a possibility.