Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Magnolia Crappie -Hybrid Crappie

I'm leary on using crappie hybrids. If you wanna be the guinea pig, go for it... Let us know how it works out! HAHA

Dude, harsh.

The thought of inferior F2's swimming around in my pond is less than thrilling... My feeling, if you do do it, make sure you're bass population is well established at first with at least 30 per ace 12" plus bass swimming around to make sure those so called inferior F2's get eaten.

TJ, let me refer you to a post I made shortly after finding the forum. http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=8679&Number=90537#Post90537

So, did you ever get the hybrids and if so... How did they work out???

Just sitting here thinking and that is rare and spooky. I offer this possible contrarian thought.

OK, if you stock the crappie, the bass and bluegill will or should control the offspring. However, the F1 crappies that you stock should do the same job of cleaning out the offspring of the bass and BG. They're pretty well known for that. When the original stocker bass get too big to prey on crappie fry, you might be depending on the decimated BG population to keep the crappie in check.

It should be an interesting experiment.

I think I mentioned this is a previous thread but occasionally I get some monster crappies in (18 inches and above) and they invariably turn out to be natural hybrids. They will look like one of the two species (black or white) but have the spine count of the other. I talked to a local biologist about it and he says he sees the hybrids from time to time too.

Here's one I mounted that was 20 or 21 inches.

Good points...I'm not too worried about the SMB or BG populations as I will be raising SMB and will supplement stock annually - and BG are right down the road at Dr. Frankendello's place...

I think I'll try stocking some in a .2 acre pond I have full of FHM and GSH first and see how things progress. Might add a few CSBG and YP also.

Gasp! Beautiful fish and mount. You're vastly talented Cecil.

Anything you can learn about HC would be really helpful. Thanks C.

Here's a good crappie comparison photo...

Thanks for the kind words. However this fish was atypical in as the markings were quite light and subdued so I painted it that way. Note the spot pattern leans toward a black (no bar pattern and mixed) yet their are only 6 spines as in a White Crappie.

Dude, I think we're all honored you're spending your birthday with us on the forum...but it's FRIDAY NIGHT, YOUR BDAY, and you're TWENTY NINE - get out of the house and have some fun!

I'm at work... It's the calm before the storm! The dispatcher is putting me to sleep. I am sitting in front of our local night club keeping the crowd under control... Just waiting to hear my designator get called and be sent to the next call. I have internet connection in my police cruiser...

This thread has morphed since I last checked it. TJ try these.

Additional threads on Black and White and B X W crappie as well diploid and triploid research and success.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=13896&fpart=1



http://forums.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=002275;p=1

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=000402;p=1

http://forums.pondboss.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001332

http://forums.pondboss.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=20;t=001319

http://forums.pondboss.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=20&t=001230

So is it true no middle ground with your job CJ? Either sheer boredom or adrenaline pumping?

Yeah, that about sums it up... You go from stuffing your face full of donuts to puking them up 10 minutes later cause you have to chase someone. It's really a pain! HAHA

Thank you Eric

Stocking QTY advice needed asap:

Rex may be headed this way Wednesday with Hybrid BC. I think the forum will benefit from my stocking experiment, plus I really want to try and raise some trophy BC. I have two options I need your advice on:

Pond 1: .2 acres, 14' depth - millions of GSH and FHM present. Spillway flows into main pond, but I doubt they can traverse the .5" of water into the main pond - not too concerned about introduction into main pond. Need to know stocking qty suggestions. I was thinking 100.

Pond 2: 3.5 acres, max depth 18' - average depth 8', species present: 400 8-12" YP, 50 12" HSB, 800 4-8" RES, 400 2-6" CSBG, FHM GSH PK Shrimp. I was thinking 300-400 here.

I would appreciate any feedback! Thanks

TJ do you want to do both ,one or the other or 1 best results ?

When was pond 2 at that point (fish sizes)? Any reproduction from those fish yet ?

What size BC ? Are they hybrids , ? Black Stripe and or what hybrids BC X WC ? Feed trained ?

Aeration in these ponds ?

TJ do you want to do both ,one or the other or 1 best results ?

Thanks for the response Eric. I want to do both IF it makes sense to do so. I need your help navigating those waters....

I am leaning towards stocking ONLY in the smaller pond with PK, GSH and FHM to see how they perform prior to releasing into my main pond. This seems prudent.....?



When was pond 2 at that point (fish sizes)? Any reproduction from those fish yet ?

I stocked all fish September 08 - all have doubled in size. No reproduction from YP or RES, but have had at least one spawn from the CSBG and there are probably thousands of 1-2" fish present.

What size BC ? Are they hybrids , ? Black Stripe and or what hybrids BC X WC ? Feed trained ?

BC are 4-6" reportedly...you know how that goes, probably many will be 2-4" in my experience.

I believe these are Black Stripes and NOT feed trained

Aeration in these ponds ?

No aeration YET - hopefully installed Spring 09 - but do have well supplementing with 45 GPM in both ponds.

Rex, can you jump in here with any info on these fish?

TJ my thought is to go with 100 (if mostly 4 inch - a few more if mostly small) in the small pond. Then adding 20 4-6 inch HSB in the spring/summer. Reason is it may work and is a small risk in the small pond. The other pond will cost more and be a much bigger risk in both $ and to your existing fish if it does not work. Good luck !!

Thank you Eric, as ever - sound advice, and amazinginly enough was the direction I was leaning towards.....grasshopper is learning.

TJ:

I see Rex talked you into being the guinea pig. He was prodding me a while back, but since I only have one pond, I didn't want to be the first one to chance it. It'll be interesting to see how they fare.

I built a pond devoted to Triploid BC - since they aren't available, I'm going to break the state record using these!