Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Give me your thoughts on this recommendation

Dave,
We certainly do not want an ineresting experiment, but that is what we might get if I do not convince the POA to re-think the carte blanc recommendations of the biologist. Keep n mind that I am a neophyte to pond management, and am in the initial stages of education on the topic. That is why I have posted the questions, and appreciate the frank answers.

The interesting experiment was made, I think, as a way of providing a classy rebuttal to the recommendations I had recieved from the fish supplier.

My goals now will be to try to get the LNB numbers reduced, add back an equal dollar amount of CNBG ( or maybe even add to that) at the time the shad are released in 2 weeks.

BTW, the mean winter temperatures are in the 50's, with average low's to mid 20's and high's to mid 60's. the water temp in mid february was in the ow 60's, so the shad may do fine in over wintering

Here is a picture of the CNBG stocked last week. These are stated as 3-4" and sexualy mature. What do you think? Are these larger than standard 1 1/2-2" normaly stocked?

I'm having a hard time seeing that these are CNBG at all. Maybe it is just me. I see forked tails on several. Are you sure these are not the shiners? However if I'm wrong these are for sure bigger than standard 1-2" and yess they can start spawning right away at taht size. Man still looking and don;t they are bluegill. See that shiny flash in the middle, stil think shiner.

Greg, I'm like you. It must be the picture but those look nothing like any sunfish I've ever seen. The picture I'm seeing makes them look elongated and torpedo shaped.

I too think they are shiners...I lightened up the image and coppernose just don't bend that way...several in the pic have sleek bodies too.

This has been an interesting thread, if bass must be added according to schedule, you better add 30-60 adult (5-7 inch) BG per acre immediately to have a shot at pulling this accellerated plan off.

I tried to adjust and enlarge the pic. One fish I would say is a BG all the others can't tell. On that one can see the bars well enough and head also. Often when they are in current as when bucket is poured out their fins lay back sleek to the fish. These fish are for sure not regular size 2in. stockers.

Try this one. i may hae gotten the wrong image in the las post.

Or maybe thjis one.

THOSE are BG - the ones I can get the best idea of, look to be 3" or better.

Yep those are BG. They will spawn right away as long as the tmep is high enough. I just wish you could convince the board to get some more. BTW how many buckets like this did they dump? With 3,000 cnbg/bg we would not bucket put temper and shot them in, just making sure you got at least 3,000.

Everything will work fine except the predators. With no predators, those mature-ish BG and forage fish will explode by fall. Predators stocked in early fall will have plenty of food for sure!

It's a slower way to go, and much cheaper than "conventional" stocking. I'm sure money is a consideration, but a bit puzzling for a high dollar project like that. Why not do it the faster way? Life is too short!

Greg,
There were several buckets. the truck arrived witha 61 degree temp water and we had 71 degree lake temp. the decision was to temper he fish by taking a 1/2 bucket of lake water, add 1/2 bucket of truck water, then add the fish. These were then lowered into the lake and the bucket submerged till the fish started to swim out on their own. Total time to unload the shiners, BG, and minnows was 2 1/2 hours. the tuffies were added without the "tempering".
Based on this size, I am being told they will spawn this early summer. Is that right?

If the lake conditions are good those 3-4 in BG should spawn this summer at least the ones that were in good condition. When we did a stocking of 3-5in. BG in March the fish ,which were bigger than yours ,spawned about June 15 or about 90 days after they went in. However they were feed trained when they arrived and resumed eating art.feed about 2 days after they went in. Compare your BG to these.

Sounds like you were treated well. They will spawn before that depending on temp. I have seen bluegill on bed in late April lots of times. I would start lokin garound for beds in May though.

While our regular population (existing) of BG/RES usually start spawning in late March depending on temps. and weather that has not been true for the newly added fish. They have taken time to adjust to the new location become acclimated and de-stress from the move. If the water they came from was not rising in temps vs yours and not been subjected to lengthing photoperiod it could take a while for them to be able to spawn. See this link and text below FYI :

From SRAC :
If smaller bluegills and redears are
used for spawning, they should
be stocked at higher rates to compensate
for reduced fecundity and
greater variability of spawn size,
consistency and success. Most culturists
agree that broodstock
should be stocked in the winter,
or at least by early spring ....

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002523;p=1#000009

I would hold off on the predators totally for two years and then stock largemouth bass.

That way tons of forage and a good chance to get 18 pound plus bass in the future, especially if the threadfin shad can overwinter.

Lots of small bluegill, golden shiners and threadfins will = a bass smorgasbord.

Especially if the bass are stocked at a really low density.