Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations LMB - no mas

Our fall stocking program for ~2 acre pond has been achieved with predominate HSB, mostly male adult CNBG and RES; stocked to reestablish population loss due to summer fish kill.

The spring stocking plan was to include 50 adult Florida LMB, in addition to normal tilapia numbers.
My plans have changed and I am canceling order of LMB, and manage strictly for HBS and CNBG pond, with unknown numbers of survivor CC for BG control.

My long-term plan is to “phase out” ¼ acre “grow-out” pond since adult HSB and CNBG are readily available from Overton Fisheries.

I am assuming that recent “heavy” stocking rate of adult mostly male CNBG will result in “limited” BG spawn in 2 acre pond?

I am sharing this plan on a personal basis due to realization that I am no longer physically able to manage 2 ponds that require attention to aeration, maintenance and servicing 4 feeders, without imposing on other folks for help.

In the meantime, I’m going to have a bunch of fun with a fly rod, and revert to original “put and take” plan.

Any thoughts or comments will be appreciated.

George do you think the HSb and remaining CC can control the CNBG reproduction/recuirtment enough to have a good growth rates on your CNBG?

Greg, I do believe that our big, overstocked CC were the major BG predator that resulted in majority of 8-10 inch CNBG, and rarely caught or trapped smaller that 5 inches.
The LMB were skinny and assumed cause was poor visibility water, but I admit I seldom fished for them.

I hated the big hook shy CC monsters but may have to stock more if few survived fish kill.
I’ve only seen one before cold weather set in but probably more.

HSB were fat and happy feeding on AQMX but probably ate CNBG spawn as well?

George I will bet that you have more cc than you realize. I originally stocked two thousand fingerlings four years ago this coming spring but they did something I didn't expect. They reproduced.

James you are the rare exception on the reproduction of channel cats with bass. George just keep in mind in my experience with HSB as only predator bluegill will be numerous. Prove me wrong please. Have fun catching those HSB.

BTW I had kids over this weekend and they caught trout from my ponds on trout chow imiation fly. They did not mind not mathcing the hatch but did enjoy holding the fly rod and having the fish jump three feet in the air.

Greg, I really appreciate your input, which is consistent with Overton’s recommendation of stocking 50 Florida bass, but I’m going to pass and see what we can come up with.
I haven’t had a chance to discuss this with Todd.

He will likely agree with you, but maybe y’all can come up with some “off-the-wall ideas other than traditional LMB/BG “balanced” pond concept, which is unacceptable to me.

George not trying to change your mind. Heck so what if you have tons of bluegill in a couple of years at that point any bass stocked will get fat in a hurry.

I have been trying for years for "outside the box" stocking plans. If I find out the secret reciepe I will let you know.

Very true Greg - I have some monster CNBG and fat and happy HSB to fish for the next couple of years, and then my son can stock his beloved LMB and I can sit back and enjoy.

OK George here is your outside the box thought. Go with what you have. Focus on killing off most of the BG fry. Contact Todd and have him ready to go with a partial rotenone when the BG have been on the nests and fry start to appear the first time this spring. Scare off the adult BG guarding the nests and apply a light dose of diluited rotenone and water by hose just above the nest area where the fry are. That should wipe out a bunch of small BG. Key small amount in small area. Or with less risk you could have someone seine for samll BG and remove them for sale - Todd might go for that.

No comments or additional suggestions from me, george - just a wish for the best of luck growing and catching big CNBG & HSB!

Thanks Theo,
There is a probability that there are LMB survivors from the fish kill which may make this topic academic…

How’s that for a spin?

I'll bet there are some LMB survivors. Even in O2 crash, some smaller fish will be sitting on the sidelines in the skinny water.

George's family won't go for the rotenone idea, Ewest, because it is a pesticide chemical. But it was a good out of the box thought.

I believe there are some LMB survivors from the fish kill, but would like to have seen the actual aftermath of floaters so that I'd know just how extensive the kill was. This is not a pond that would have promoted good LMB fingerling survival naturally, because of nearly 0% dense structure or vegetation, low visibility, and high predator load.

If the adult LMB plan is now scratched, Jeff ought to toss in 100 or so advanced fingerling LMB ASAP, for posterity sake, because Georges HSBs aren't getting any smaller.

Or down the road when/if the pond overpopulates with bluegill, adult LMBs can be stocked at will.

There are Pros and Cons to every single decision we make in this pond business......huh.

Todd I know - but he did ask for out of the box thoughts. While rotenone is registered it is a natural product not a chemical pesticide.

I have said from day one that George had fish left and it is hard to know what effect that will make.

I might be dumb, but I’m not stupid enough to enough to ignore Greg’s, Eric’s, and Todd’s advise:






Here’s the program:
"George,
I don't understand completely why we are having to think about this. I would stock 100-200 (advanced fingerling feed trained) bass, the more you stock the better the odds that they stay on feed. They may become a nuisance while you fish for your HSBs, by competing for the hook. They will spawn, but I doubt they will overpopulate. Their offspring, if they survive will likely feed-train.
Todd"

A man of few words – I LOVE IT ...