Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose SMB/YP/RES in one acre dug pond

We will have to compare notes as things proceed.

Huntmaster's stocking numbers for this fall are also okay IMO. If you stocked FHM breeder sized FHM 2 months ago (1st Week of Aug) you should be seeing some FHM minnow fry about 3/4" long.

Perfect, I'll get them ordered right away.

Is it cool enough right now to ship the crayfish two day from NY to MI to try to save a few $$$?

I actually stocked the FHM on August 24th and have only had time to walk the pond during daylight a handful of times since. I haven't seen any fry yet, just a hand full of the original fish. Never have seen the stocker RES since stocking, but my visibility isn't the greatest yet either.

For what the crayfish cost, spend the extra $ and have one day shipping. It's not the temp, it's the amount of O2 in the bag. The bags, when they arrived here were about 1/2 full of water.

Remember, they're swimming/crawling in their own pee and poop for 2 days.......

A client had some shipped 2nd day, and it wasn't pretty.

The ones that were shipped next day came thru fine.

If you got 4-5 inch RES that had not spawned this year they may have spawned in your pond. If they were 2 inch RES likely no spawn yet (next spring).

The Cray fish are on their way next day air...

I only stocked the 2-3" RES, so I didn't expect to see them spawn this year.

OK, I ordered 35 4-6" RES and 35 6-8" YP to put in my 1 acre pond that was stocked with FHM and GSH this spring. Hopefully I will be ready for SMB in two years!

Where did you order your crayfish from that does next day air shipping?

Here's where I ordered them from - http://www.smithcreekfishfarm.com

They are to ship tomorrow with a Wednesday delivery. I'll post up some pics how they arrive, etc.

Thanks

Nice pricing - $2.00/ea for 1-3" BG? Is that the shipped price I wonder? 4-5" WE are $25/ea! That's a 1100% markup from my local price. Guess I'm in the wrong business - I give my CSBG away for free.

Time for you to get cardboard boxes, double wall bags, insulation and an O2 tank. Start shipping!!!

Ah, those are shipped prices then I guess. No clue the complexities of the shipping game - not interested in learning, either.

There is quite an industry for native aquarium fish...

With 35 6-8" YP in the pond this fall (in a 1 acre pond stocked with FHM and GSH this past spring), would one expect a good base for SMB in the fall of 2015?

I don't think they are shipped prices...they weren't on my crayfish order.

RAH-""With 35 6-8" YP in the pond this fall (in a 1 acre pond stocked with FHM and GSH this past spring), would one expect a good base for SMB in the fall of 2015?"" More than enough forage available in fall of 2015 and adequate amount in spring-summer of 2014. For SMB, Try to get some crayfish in March to mid-April before they hatch eggs.

Great! I have 35 4-6" RES coming with the YP also. I will put piles of bricks on the ice in shallow water this winter. Volunteer crayfish that make the "volcanoes" have already shown up on their own. I am hoping that the water lilies that I planted this summer become established before the crayfish wreck havoc with them! I may add some SMB early as you suggested, but fewer and count on recruitment, if that makes sense?

Where did you get your RES?

Jones fish hatchery in Ohio. I have not got them yet, but they are the ones that stocked my other pond quite a few years back.

Adding a few SMB early has benefits. It allows fast growth of those few stockers and causes minimal predation pressure on the forage base which continues strong expansion until the stocker SMB reproduce and the offspring become rapid growing juveniles.

Well maybe I'll add a small number of small SMB in spring and just wait for them to stock the pond for me.

I got my RES from Finfarm in Ohio.

After reading through some of the WE threads, it seems that I might be able to add a few of those to the mix down the road. I would guess I could likely add some when I add my SMB or wait until the SMB are established and then add say 30 or so WE. Any thoughts on that approach?

IMO 30 WE in one acre with reproducing SMB will soon over eat your food source which is okay if you don't expect fast growth and larger quality sized fish. The goal in best fish management is to have the fishery produce quality sized and numbers of fish over the long term, not just the first several years. Most pond owners 'fall into the hole' of adding or having too many predators over eating the food supply due to predator reproduction and lack of adequate harvest. It is best to not have to constantly add forage fish to maintain the existing predator base. This is a sign that there are too many predators and the fishery is out of balance.

Fair enough Bill, I'll stick with my original plan. I thought maybe a specialty fish (WE) added in might not be to much of a hammer on the food supply and also add something else to the dinner table.