Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking hot bass-cold water

If I transfer bass or crappie from a hydro-electric lake that is usually 70-80 deg. in winter, and put them in my 5 acre lake, which is spring fed and 20 feet deep, will the drastic temperature change kill them?

Lots of things to consider besides temperature.
First things first. If you choose to move those fish, transport them in the same water you caught them. Be sure to aerate your water during hauling. When you get to your lake, adjust the hauling water with your lake water, until you have brought the temperature within 3 degrees. Then, release the fish.
Don't linger.
Keep in mind you are transferring a fish conditioned to a given environment, into a totally different environment. That fish may thrive, but it may decline, too.
And, no crappie in lake smaller than 20 acres. You ask for trouble with crappie in small lakes.
Last, if you do transfer fish, keep in mind you must have a food chain to support the new fish, and you may transfer a bass carrying the largemouth bass virus disease.
Lots of risks, for the reward of "instant" fishing.

I would also add salt to the hauling water. When fish are stressed, which is unavoidable when they are hauled, their osmotic salt balance is disturbed.

Adding salt helps them regain salt that they are losing from their bodies. I always use salt when I haul fish and haven't had a DOA yet.

In fact, I use a hauling additive called "Sure Haul" which along w/ the "Sure Haul" requires 4 cups of uniodized salt per 100 gallons. The sure haul also has additives that keep foam production down, ph swings down, ammonia down, and helps restore lost electrolytes.

Aquatic Ecosytems sells the product. They're on the Internet.

O.k. maybe I'm getting ahead of myself here. I just bought some property in west central Il. It has a 5 acre lake on it, that is 45 yrs old, Totally spring fed with no runoff coming into it. It's 20 ft. deep at it's deepest point and has lots of cover, brush piles, laydowns, coontail, and a few other aquatic plants throughout. The previous owner used it as a pay lake and told me he put in bass, crappie, bluegill, carp, catfish over the years, I've got the fisheries dept. coming out to tell me exactly what type of plants I have in there.Since it's late in the season, I'll have to wait till spring to get a good feel on exactly whats in this lake. My plans are to have a hog bass pond at my dissposal basically. And yes Bob, I will get the crappie out of there as soon as I can.(if there are any) I will be ordering your books on pond mgmt. And the one on trophy bass mgmt. Also let me add that this is the greatest website in the world! I've been so excited about building my own bass lake, but knew it would'nt be easy. This was just what I've been looking for. Thanks a million. You'll be hearing from me alot. Brad Bortz

Sounds like a great pond! Good Luck! After reading both of Bobs books last weekend I can say that they should be able to give you a great start on what direction to take from here with your pond. Will love to here how it goes.