Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Forage pond change of plans

So here I was, planning on 60 lb (roughly 500) rainbow trout in my forage pond where I could feed them to double or triple their initial weight, then put them in main BOW for bass. Twine strung all over to keep out cormorants, eager to get started. And then...

Well, when the fish came, the "fingerlings" ran bigger than last year. A lot bigger. Probably averaged 4 or 5 ounces, not 2 like last year.

After some thought, decided to put them in main BOW along with 60 lb of adult trout. Yes, I could fatten them up some before release, but not nearly as much as I had anticipated. Plus they were big enough to devour many of the YOY CNBG already in the forage pond. Just didn't seem worth it.

So I ended up stocking 60 lb adult and 120 lb "fingerling" rainbow in main BOW. Adults averaged around 12-13 inches, too big for any but my largest LMB to eat. If things go as they did last year, some of these will get to 3 plus pounds, loads of sport. I suspect most of the smaller trout will be eaten by bass, though the HSB will likely get some.

No sign of cormorants, nor geese. Surprising, but welcome. We do have an eagle and kingfisher, plus four (!) beavers.

Moral of the story: Plan all you want, but remember that, in the end...It depends.

Frank, it sounds like some fun when I look at your trout plans. What size in length is the 4 to 5 oz trout? Just curious as to what sized lmb they might feed?

Never truer words spoken.

Tracy, the small RBT were around six or seven inches, roughly two inches longer and double the weight of last year. I'm guessing that they got a couple of extra weeks of growth in 2020, as they were stocked the first of December last year. Probably the hatchery had issues with labor and/or weather, can't imagine they'd want to keep feeding the fish extra weeks if they didn't have to do so.

A 12 inch LMB could eat them now, given their fusiform shape is easier to swallow than a BG. Big meal for 12 to 15 inch bass, reasonable meal for bigguns. But RBT grow very fast, those that survive the first week or two will be prime sizes for the lunker bass in six weeks.

The large trout are perfect size for my largest bass right away, but will grow beyond that in a few months.

PS Not the most efficient way to feed my bass, I know. But my guests & I enjoy catching trout in winter when other fish are sluggish, so worth it to me.

Yeah, John, that's one thing I've learned: Planning is important, but things seldom go entirely according to plan. Gotta be flexible & adapt.