Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Oklahoma lake help!

We own a 120 acre private lake in central Oklahoma. Purchased it 10 years ago and at that time there were Gar, CC, few black crappie, sand bass, buffalo or drum whatever they are called, grass carp, bluegill, and LMB.

Fishing, the only thing we caught for two years was the occasional 10-12 pound catfish and a ton of LMB most between 5-8lbs

We got in touch with the fish hatchery here in Oklahoma and did what they recommended and stocked he following:

5,000 Florida hybrid bass
2,500 Bluegill
2,500 Sun Perch
5,000 White Crappie
2,500 Black crappie
And for some odd reason he had us stock 1,000 CC
These were all fingerlings so no telling how many survived.

Now if fishing, you can catch in a matter of minutes, 25-30 black or white crappie that are way to small to eat, every now and then you might get lucky and grab a 1.5lb crappie

When trying to catfish, or putting a worn on a bobber, within 30 seconds you'll have a 6 inch long CC rarely catch one over 10 oz

If you try to fish for LMB you can reel in 40 Sand bass in a matter of a half hour.
Most of them 2-3 lbs

I'm looking for a way to get rid of some of the smaller fish. Was thinking maybe 25-30 Northern Pike. And would love to add Walleye to the lake not sure how they would do with all the predators unless I could find some 12" which I've yet to find around Oklahoma.

Lake condition:

Not much cover, 18-25 feet deep. Never gets over 80 degrees at surface, remains 60 year round at 5-6 feet. Lake is natural Spring fed(underwater stream) there is rock all the way around the lake about 5 feet out into the water. Visibility is pretty good. Can see 3-4' into the water standing on the dock. No algae, no moss, a pretty good selection of grass out into the waters on the south end, but not much on the other three sides.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. I know two many northern pike would be bad, not sure how many walleye is too many, or if they'd even survive in here.

Welcome Dakotah,

Fish stocking numbers don't make sense but what done is done.

Your situation sounds like a good place to stock Blue catfish. Blues grow to sizes that will eat your overpopulation of medium sized fish. Not just the small ones.

Don't know much about northern pike but I imagine it may get too hot for them in OK.

Dakotah, I grew up in E. Central Ok and fished several watersheds in that part of Ok. Built by the gov but surrounded by private land. Back then in the 60's if you could get permission they were most always good lmb fishing like you described. For me, what you added won't harm any thing, but may get little survival, just snacks to the fish you already have. So, if it were me, I would find some 12" hybrid striper bass(HSB) and stock a good number of them, they may help to reduce the crappie which could improve their size over time. And the HSB would grow and provide a nice sized double digit fish to catch. I would also add some 12 " Florida lmb. And the Blue catfish already mentioned may help things along also. But I am no expert. There is a guy!! Who started this whole deal here, Bob Lusk, easy to contact him here. you might want to hire him for his X PER TESE!!

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