Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose anticipating spring stocking...need some advice

Hello all. I have a .18 acre pond approximately 8 ft deep at center. 6ft average. Debating wether to stock a bg hsb combination or if pond is too small to accomplish this with success. I have been lurking on this site for around a year and debating the best combo for the new to me pond. Just nervous to pull the trigger due to fear of overpopulation of bg which seems to be a problem.

Also if stocking for spring would it be best to stock fhm bg this spring and stock hsb in winter or stock all together at once. Any benefits or drawbacks either way? Any advice is appreciated.

You can try it but hybrid bluegills/HSB with a feeder might be a better choice. I've done that several times for neighbors and there have been no control issues. Toss in a dozen RES for snail issues.

The HBG will spawn some but I've never seen an issue. Their progeny is green sunfish which some people don't like but I'm not one of them. The GSF will out fight a BG/CNBG/RES any day. And, I've never personally seen them take over a Texas pond.

How many of each is dependent on the amount of water you really have in July and August.

Water level is not a big issue as we have a well and I can keep brim full during the summer if need be. How many of each would you stock? I figure the hsb will keep any hbg spawn in check but unsure of how many to stock initially and wether to stock all at once or establish a fhm hbg base before adding stripers

I think I would try 100 HBG and about 10 HSB. But, I haven't done one that was less than 1/3 acre so am not real sure.

That's the # that I would start with if it were mine.

Thanks for the advice dave

I'm in the same boat with a very small (new) pond about .2 ac.
I'm not sure its even worth the cost of trying to manage it - i'm figureing $200-$300 bucks for FHM and BG and LMB.

I'm really tepted to just drop a few minnow traps in my neighbors pond and pick out the species i dont want. I'm thinking some local creek will be good for striped dace, plus mixed breed farm pond bluegill and maybe two 8" LMB - throw it all in and see what happens.


cost - free!! and i bet i'll learn something. then the next poperty i buy will have a real pond big enough to actually manage and stock and i'll apply what i've learned.

2isgreen I have been very tempted to do this as well. Living less than a mile from two bayous i have thought about and almost done this numerous times. Also 10 minutes from the gulf of Mexico I have been intrigued by bobby rice and his experiments with saltwater fish in freshwater pond. All of this is why I delayed stocking last march when we bought the property.

Unfortunately I believe I am much too dumb to pull this off effectively without adding some unwanted species. I figure most experts will say the same about adding unwanted species unknowingly being the biggest drawback to this approach. However it is basically free and with small pond like you and I have if you later decide it does not work for you can always roetone the pond for about what it would cost to stock from hatchery.

Maybe a hybrid approach would actually work best - buy the FHM, and locally source some BG and LMB.

Bucket stocking is a big temptation. But, you really can't be sure that you won't introduce something like a parasite into your pond. I think you will find that stocking is the cheapest part of the trip.

This has been my concern and why I have avoided bucket stocking so far. Still the temptation is great but figure do it once and do it right then I know if something goes wrong it is my own fault. I am planning to stock last week in February.

I'm not sure you'll be happy with LMB in a pond this small. You could do single-sex LMB, though, if you really want them.

Agree Bocomo. I'd pass on anything that spawns.

WRFinTX, I would love to have a HSB/CNBG .18 pond w/o LMB!
I only post information gained from personal experience.
Our 1/4 acre pond was stocked in Spring 2005 with FHM, RES, and FHM.
Spring of 2006 stocked 100 fingerling HSB - only occasional hand feeding - HSB "forage" trained.

Added one (1) female LMB ~3 yrs later - (1)BC some 5 years.

WE "ladder- stock HSB each fall - last fall 8, 1-2 lb HS.,
Currently transfer "cull" CNBG from main pond to little pond.
Produced numerous 5lb+ HSB over the years - fun little pond.

Below photo - Son Jeff's HSB caught last week end.
Good luck,
George

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Thanks for the advice George. I have read and re-read many of your posts trying to make an ultimate decision. Your pond looks a blast and would like to acheive a fraction of your success one day.

In your opinion how many of each would you stock of fhm hsb and cnbg? Also should I throw them all in at once late February or stock fhm and cnbg in Feb and bass in fall? Any benefits one way or other. Also debating aeration for this pond. It is my understanding your little pond is not aerated any benefit to not having aeration that you have seen? Or any drawbacks to adding aeration. I have power close and can build a cover for the pump to be housed in.

I consult with and rely on Todd Overton’s fish stocking numbers - he has more experience with HSB and CNBG than anyone in this part of the country.

I would stock forage fish in the spring and 8-10 inch HSB in the fall - - how many (?) ask Todd - you know that I push the envelope - right?
I’ll be catching 10 inch HSB by fall and one pounders soon after - a blast on the fly!

With power close to pond, I would install Kasco surface aeration to cope with Texas drought and hot weather. IMO, bottom diffusfer aeration would not be a consideration.

Have fun,
George

Thanks george. I appreciate your advice and am glad that you came back to the forum so that I may pick your brain. I thought for a minute I had missed my opportunity. I am planning on contacting Todd this week and setting up pickup for late February. ..can't wait to get this baby up and running.

Randy

One more question. Can someone explain the differences in surface vs. diffuser aeration? I think I am correct in thinking bottom diffuser aeration mixes the water column more effectively ...not necessarily a good thing in hot texas weather. And surface provides water movement providing more oxygen but allows for a thermocline to remain? I am probably seriously off base.

You pretty much hit it on the head, unless you combine a surface agitator with a tube that allows water from deeper in the water column to be brought to the surface.

As to whether it's more O2, that all depends on how it's measured.

I'll bet George will have a slightly different take on it, and I'd say his take on it is correct too.

I believe the key to your decision as to selection of bottom diffuser or surface aeration is depth and dimensions of your of your water body, and I failed to ask that question.
I believe esshup and I both agree there is a need at times for operation of one or both systems, which we have in our 2 acre pond, and no aeration in 1/4 acre pond with no fish kill ever. The challenge is managing the biomass.
My primary goal is coping with ever-changing water volume due to drought conditions and my pushing the limits on biomass to prevent another major fish kill.

What is your pond depth – I believe that will give you the answer.

George

Sorry,missed water depth.
With 8ft depth and 6 ft avgerage with electricity on site,perfect for surface aeration. A properly sized Kasco unit will pull water from those depths and create a wake greater than a bottom diffuser system.
Disclaimer: I don't sell stuff -only share experience.

In 6ft of water in our 2 acre pond, we have a clean hard clay bottom that is posible only by drawing water from the bottom.
Surface aeration creates O2 - bottom difusers circulate water. Sratification, IMO will not be a problem ina "shallow" .18 acre pond.
Good luck,
George

In a clients pond, which is 7/8 ac, 7' max depth (lotta muck) he has both. He runs both systems from early spring to late fall, strictly the bottom system in the winter. Golden Rainbow trout were still alive in the pond in 78°F water. The whole water column in the pond was at saturation levels (78°F the O2 reading was 8.2 mg/l)

Yes, I recall - as you know I operate a similar system on a 2 acre pond. I do not belive our dual system would be a valid comparison to a virgin pond with no muck build up with an average depth of 6ft.
Thsnk goodness I don't have to do client stuff - I would starve to death..

Hi Randy, I forgot another thing - is your HSB goal for fun or food or combination?
Makes a difference in stocking density.
I have said at times that I would love to have a HSB pond only - no excess forage problems - feed them and catch them on a fly rod - kinda like fishing one of Todd's ponds!

Also forgot to mention - NO structure or cover to maximize HSB predation of CNBG.
We have one GC and single sex tilapia in our little pond that handles aquatic vegetation and FA very well.
I would love to start all over but too quick too old – I love small ponds!
George

Ps: Forgot to address your brackish water – striped bass love Texoma brackish water.
Mrs G has caught a 13+ lb HSB out of lake Texoma!

I appreciate all the advice I really do. I guess my main goal is to have fun, a few fish dinners a year and be able to fish a couple days every month. Never thought of hsb only. Ill have to seriously sonsider that!

At first I figured ill catch and stock some bg and lmb and have a big bass pond. Thank god I found this forum and researched how to create a good fishery and avoid a stunted mess. It bothers me that the pond is muddy but I have done a jar test and it settles in a few days so I assume its wind. Plenty of gams and some crawfish found in it last summer. Turtles and frogs love this thing as well. There isn't much vegetation and no cover.

Here is a stupid question..when you sink in to your ankle in the shallows is that muck? If so it has that. Does aeration help that?

Good old Texas mud in a new pond - muck stinks...organic material...
G/