Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Raising Forage and Bait FH and cover in a pond

Last year I posted that some weed had completely taken over the edges of my pond. It turned out to be water primrose and even though it is very invasive I've decided to keep it in the pond. It offers lots of cover and shade for cooling.

Usually when putting FH into the pond they have a tendancy to dissapear fairly quickly. (.75 ac pond, lots of stunted LM and BG.) My goal is to raise the ammount of forage rather that reduce the amount of fish.

Since the water primrose floats, puts down lots of roots and cover the shallow areas I'm thinking it would be a good place for fatheads to get some cover and grow. Will they spawn in something like water primrose? Should I also add a strong swimmer like a GS just in case?

TIA, Mark

FH will use the Water Primrose as cover and to spawn under. Removal is not that hard if you need to open some spots or reduce coverage.

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/emergent_plants/water_primrose.htm

http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/database/emergent_plants/water_primrose_mgmt.htm

I don't think FH will be enough to fix a pond with to many skinny BG and LMB. If you want that many fish you may have to add adult BG and or feed them. LMB reduction is inevitable as they will reproduce to the forage level plus.