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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57
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OP
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57 |
Would Blue Catfish work as the predominate predator in a large pond?
After consideration I think I may keep the walleyes in my smaller ponds, with forage just for them, then my 6 plus acre pond set it up as self sustaining.
main predator blue cat secondary predator black crappie redear sunfish bluegill green sunfish fathead minnow rosie red minnow paper shell crawfish freshwater mussels then maybe add some paddle fish for something exotic
If your job is something you enjoy youll never work a day in your life
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 222
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 222 |
What about some golden shiners?
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57
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OP
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57 |
yes some Golden Shiners would be great addition, make them blues as big and fat as possible, blues reliably reproduce in a neighbors 4 acre pond, though he added way too many spawning barrels, and the blues out number their prey, but my neighbor dont eat them, I do, also my neighbor put in channels and flatheads, seeing how they hybridised in his pond, I wont do that, strictly blues, if it wasnt for that Id consider stocking from his pond, and I will limit the spawning areas to less than half dozen
If your job is something you enjoy youll never work a day in your life
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 222
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 222 |
If your only going to have blues and want some big ones you might also consider some threadfin or gizzard shad.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 104
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 104 |
Hi KSBASS, what size pond would the shad do well in ? I have a 6 acre pond. What do the shad feed on?
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Shad of both species generally do best in ponds 3-5+ acres with a good bloom as they mostly filter feed.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57
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OP
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57 |
gizzard shad, dont they get kinda big, seen the hybrid bass feed on them at Monroe reservoir, Ive also seen them over populate small ponds, would the blues keep them under control ? Though my planned lake mis over 6 acres
If your job is something you enjoy youll never work a day in your life
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 222
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 222 |
Shad can overpopulate but blues ge very large and can be very aggressive. Its just a option to consider.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57
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OP
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57 |
I like it, realy I dont think you can get too much forage, especialy if you want large fish,
If your job is something you enjoy youll never work a day in your life
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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I would on stocking gizzard shad in this stocking scenario until several years after the cats and HSB are stocked. Keep in mind, a gizzard shad can be over a foot long in 2 years. Only the largest and I do mean largest of HSB could ever feed on a shad that large. And it would take a 20 plus pound blue cat. Gonna take a few years for the original HSB and blue cat stockers to attain sizes large enough to properly control the gizzard shad.
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57
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OP
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 57 |
Thats what I was wondering about CJB, I think I could wait and see before introducing shad, wait until the blues and HSB are big, and could use some extra feed.
If your job is something you enjoy youll never work a day in your life
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Joined: Jun 2013
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Joined: Jun 2013
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