Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Redears for Rubbermaid

I'm looking to get some redears between 1-3 inches to start a project similar to the way I'm raising yellow perch. I've always been able to get thousands of HSB shipped from Arkansas for a reasonable price. Does anyone know of a supplier who could do something similar for me with RES? I'd probably need either 500 1-2 inchers or 250 2-3 inchers. It just doesn't work for me to drive more than 150 miles for them.

Thanks

Thats funny you posted that. I was just ready to email you and find out where I could get 250 small redears. A friend of mine needs some. Let me know if you come across any.

Bruce,
I assume that you are looking for RES, spring 2006 delvery?

Would not 1-2 inch/2-3 inch RES at this time of the year be stunted fish from spring 2005 -OR - am I wrong in assuming that RES spawn more that one time per year as I have been told?

Actually, George, you are correct. More specifically, I'd wait a while for bigger fish, say into July or August. If someone had one inchers, these could be as little as a few weeks old and might come from a southern grower.

Yep, definitely don't want mini age-1's.

Bruce :

All the hatcheries around here grow out their yoy BG and RES together in the same pond by % 75% BG 25% RES +-. I have a very hard time finding a source of just RES yoy. Todd indicated that he grew some RES out to adult size 5in. if I remember as Greg and I were interested some mths. back. I will be glad to make a few calls if you like. I know some that ship small fish in bags with 02 and boxed by UPS or Fedx. to your house. I would be concerned about the fitness of deep south RES genetics in a Neb. pond as RES are not that cold tolerant anyway. There may be a north Ark. source that would be adapted enough but I may be way out on a limb on that. Let me know.

ewest, it's not necessary for you to do any legwork, as I'd be happy to call, if only I had any leads. I'd be interested in YOY redear from ANY source, quite frankly, but yes it would be nice to find someone north of Mexico. :p

Bruce, Call Bill Leopold at Jones Fish Hatchery in southern Ohio and he can tell you who the RES sources are closest to you. # 800-662-3474 (you did say north of Mexico)

Bruce :

Link to Dunns which says they have fingerling 1-3in. RES and will air ship. I have never bought fish from Dunns but have had other dealings with them and they did what they said quickly and in a good manner.

http://www.dunnsfishfarm.com/default.htm

If you can find them from a good reliable source from farther north that would be better.

Bruce,

RES--------What are you up to now?
Maybe......just maybe there is a RES that can tolerate cold temperature extremes that are likely to occur in our "neck of the woods"? Are you thinking about doing some selective culling for such a forage fish?
Very interesting!

Ed :

Hey, Ed! I'm going to first try Ted's southern Ohio connection. Maybe Cecil will pop in here at some time with a little information on his sources. I'm trying to think of a way I could select for redears that tolerate cold better. I may already be doing so with the 30-35 individuals I have left over from last year. There were definitely a few that didn't make it. The winter mortality seemed to be about five-fold what I've had with bluegill. Redears seem to do OK up north and I think both Cecil and Bill are aware of successful populations in their area. I just think redears about one of the coolest looking fish out there. If I even had a few make it each year I'd be happy. My Dad caught one in one of my ponds that was just over a pound this spring.

Jones Fish http://jonesfish.com

Bruce - When buying your redears be sure to ask where they came from. Many hatcheries buy their redears from southern sources. Obviously you want redears raised from northern stock that have been acclimated to northern winters for several years. There is a hatchery in central OH: Fender's Fish Hatchery and Llama farm(740-622-0681 http://fendersfishhatchery.com/ ). that raises most of their own redear fingerlings thru adults. However I am pretty sure when they run out of YOY stock they do occassionally buy redears from southern suppliers. You should request YOY from their old acclimated brood stock. Explain your situation to Dennis Fender.

Other north central hatcheries listed who sell redears are Aquatic Control Inc ww.aquaticcontrol.com(Indiana), Fountain Bluff Fish Farm 618-763-4456(IL), Hartley Fish Farm 316-532-3093(Kingman,KS), Kloubec Fisheries 319-846-2077 ww.kloubec.com(Amama,IA).

Note- many of these hatcheries who raise or sell redears often buy all or some of their YOY redears when they run out from places like Malones and Hopper-Stephens. You have to find a hatchery who you can believe and trust their word.

Cecil may know of a couple other sources. He may respond when he returns from FL. You may have to email him direct.

You might try Raccoon Valley. They are loacated about 40 miles SE of KC Mo in Pleasant Hill. I bought some RE from them last summer and was very pleased.I'm not sure if they ship. Here's their # 816-987-3488.

Bruce,

Can't help you on the redears. The only source that I know of that sells redears kicked Bill Cody and I off the property and refused to tell us why. I drove 2 1/2 hours to pick up $600.00 worth of bluegills and he tells Bill and I to leave. Even his wife's jaw dropped as she didn't know what was going on. I think the guy has some mental problems. What's scary is the guy has a full time law enforcement job when he isn't on the farm.

It turned out to be a blessing in disquise though as I found a source with nicer fish at a better price. I also think some bluegills I got in the past from the guy with the mental problems had tapeworms as tapeworms started showing up in a few of my fish not long after I planted them in the bass pond.

Bruce: There are 4 (possible) RES sources in Ohio I know of.

Jonesfish (that Ted Lea listed above) - I have personal experience with and it was good on all three occasions. They have the biggest FREE delivery area, so they might be the most willing to send the truck to Nebraska for a price (???).

Fender's (Bill Cody listed) - I have not done business with, but heard one of the Fenders talk at a pond seminar and he knew his stuff. I think there have been a couple of favorable reports about them here, definitely no negatives that I can remember.

There are two other places, Remlinger\'s and Ridgeview , that I am aware of that might be able to send RES your way next year. I have no information to relate on either one other than their websites.

I got 2 1/2 in. RES from Arkansas Pond Stockers truck in mid Nov., also same size LMB. What would be the age of these fish?

Bruce two of Theo's RES references Remlingers & Ridgeview buy their redears from southern suppliers. If you contact Jones' be sure to check on their RES source. I doubt very much that they raise all their RES. They do have some additional ponds in KY.

I repeat, be a very cautious consumer as to where you buy your RES. For your objectives, I think it would be a waste of time to use southern raised RES. You might consider collecting your own established northern RES and see if you can get them to spawn in an upground swimming pool.

Thanks a ton guys for the information. I'll start trying to develop contacts next week. As usual, I'll keep everybody informed.

Bruce:

Got my RES from Kloubec's as they do a fish route spring and fall around here (I'm only 30 miles from them). Last spring, they only had smaller ones (1.5-2.5") instead of the the 3-4" fish I wanted. They claimed it was because of a poor spawn in the hatchery. Took that to mean their own hatchery...not a southern one. Seemed like pretty decent people to work with. Kloubec\'s fish farm

Well, I was sittin' at work...

and I was, like "I should call that Kloubecs's in Iowa".

so I called 'em and they were, like "we've got redears".

so I was, like "really"?

and he was like, "really"!

so I asked where and when and he was like, "Crete, Nebraska in March".

and I was, like "Dude"!

and he was, like "Dude"!

so I was, like "I'm there"!

and he was, like "O.K."!

So I guess I've got a pretty serious lead. They're even raised from Iowa broodstock.

"Sweet"

As Sunil would say, "Hey man, were you, like, at the Stones gig in, uhh, Omaha, summer of '68? Radical. Bitchin'."

BM, I agree.

I think Bruce's connection was at, like, uh, Budokhan in '68.........the lights, man, the lights..............

Are you dreaming while on gas again -- man you have got to lay off the gas or you will be dreamin of redears x YP or of Neb. Giants- RES x Condello BG x cannibal YP. :p

I am glad you found a northern source for RES as I think it will work much better. Its in the genes man ,in the genes.

Sorry to jump in on the boy's party, but Bruce's post above reminded me more of "Finding Nemo" (the turtle named Crush). Of course he could have been at work, hooked up to the gas, AND watching Nemo...

Guess you have to watch the movie to get it (or at least have access to the gas).