Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Creating the food chain Stocking native E Texas Craws

Just an update here on my stocking native crawfish of the 3.5 acre E Texas Pond. This pond is 5 mo's old, with some CNBG and RES stocked, along with FHM's. I have added approx. 700 native crawfish seined from the low water area's in the bottom land of my property. I am not "Shure" of how many to stock. My purpose is to feed the RES because the CNBG are/will be fed using TH feeder. Hopefully the LMB will take to the crawfish if they reproduce and stay in the pond. I added these crawfish over the past 4 to 5 weeks, adding 100 to 200 per stocking. They are added to rock piles surrounded by Christmas trees just a couple of feet off the shore line. They seam to be doing well since they are in heavy cover. I hope to pass on my experience here.

Note to Mr. Bill Cody; Bill, I have done much research with my limited skills and have not been able to find the type of crawfish I am stocking here. Many states provide more information and I have also looked in to the N.W. Louisiana for some answers also but still looking. I continue to find only small craws. My samples have been 200 1/8" to 1/2 " with maybe finding one 2" crawfish out of the 200, or maybe I find four 1 " crawfish when stocking. I have baited traps (3) in the area using chicken and beef liver but nothing ever there. I have been hoping to get a picture of a full size but now I am thinking the 2" is the full size. I hope to post picture of such craws soon.

Tracy

TGW1 you will need at least a 2" long one to get a good identification. If it is a male you should pickle it in isopropyl alcohol 50%-70%. An expert may need to examine it.

Thanks Bill Cody,


Tracy

Hey, Tracy. I'm trying (if the rain ever stops) to build a pond near Marshall, TX and would love to stock some non-burrowing crawfish myself.

I've been told by those smarter than myself that the burrowing kind can be very bad news for a dam. I think it was Bob Lusk who mentioned seeing a burrow going 12 feet down when a dam was rebuilt. Shocked me, I thought just a couple of feet max but that's not the case.

Anthropic, I have walked all over my property at one time or another during all times of the year. I plant 16 acres of year round wildlife food plots where I am looking at the soils and etc. Along with weekly Bow hunting Aug through Feb. on the property. I have found maybe 3 to 5 crawfish chimney's on the property over the past 4 yr's. I also have a pretty heavy stocked forage base for my LMB with a 20% stocking of RES (2500) that love crawfish. Not to mention all the CNBG(6,000). I am just not sure how many of the native crawfish to stock. And all crawfish burrow, just some types more than others. Wish me luck Frank, I am looking to grow some Big Camalot Bell Jumpers Tilapia and TFS going in tomorrow.

PS Anthropic, I thought I would post these native crawfish stocking so others here in E Texas like you might see where it takes me.

Tracy

Sounds awesome, Tracy. Back in my younger days I'd catch small crawfish in drainage ditches and use them to fish for RES on False River near Baton Rouge. As you say, the RES absolutely love them! Let us know how it goes.

I've heard a lot about Camelot Bell,too. Still debating on pure strain Floridas vs F1. Catchability is a big factor for me, as I have young grandkids, so right now I'm leaning F1.

Is your pond pretty deep? Another severe cold snap might imperil your TFS and/or tilapia otherwise. But I'm sure you've already looked at this and judged the risk minimal...

I did discuss the Tilapia stocking and I realize I might be a little early. I usually wait till after Easter before planting wildlife food plots because of the lower probability of late freezes in our area. So I was looking at the Tilapia the same way. The weather forecast show our coolest weather will be the today with a high of 62 but the rest of the week will be in the high 70's and that should keep my surface temps in the high 60's or lower 70's. My surface water temps have been in the mid 70's this week but @ todays stocking will be cooler temps. So I might be taking a risk, we shall see. it is only a 5# stocking of the Tilapia. The TFS will be @10,000 but they cooler water temps should not bother them. I hope
Tracy