Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Bullheads in newly renovated pond

Sold about 400 3 to 4 inch bluegills to a pond owner this fall.The pond was a weed infested shallow mess before it finally winterkilled last winter. This spring the owner had it dug out deeper and cleaned out. Planted fathead minnows in early July. (Yeah I know he should have planted earlier.)

Anyway, feeding the bluegills I sold him, he has observed some small bullheads so apparently at least some of them survived the winter.

He plans on putting in 80 feed trained largmouth fingerlings in the spring, and 6 to 8 inch feed trained yellow perch from me next August. What kind of numbers should I sell him on the perch?


What are your thoughts on the bullheads? Will they be a problem?

I have virtually no expertise in conventional recreational pond management. All my experience is in hatching, grow out, noncoventional, and indoor tank monocultures.

Hey Cecil,

Never too old to learn man!

How big is the pond?

.80 acres.

I'll give you my 2 cents while you're waiting for someone who knows what the heck they are talking about shows up with good advice.

With 80 LMB in the pond, IMO probably only the original stocked YP will survive for any period of time. I would not expect recruitment. If the guy's goal is to harvest YP, I would stock "heavy" as he might never get a chance to stock them again with much success once the LMB fingerlings get some size.

I forgot to give you my opinion on the BH. Would I stock them? No. Would I nuke the pond if I got them? No. The only threat I see from them is making the water a little turbid. LMB eat them so they provide forage to the puddle as well. They do consume food that would otherwise be available for other, possibly more desirable, species and obviously add biomass that is sucking up the pond carrying capacity.

Bill,

Thanks for the feedback. Makes sense.

One knowlegable fish farmer I know says large yellow perch will actually control their own reproduction in a pond. Kind of goes against the natural resource agencies that have been saying for years that they will stunt with or without bass.

I believe Cody says along those lines too with some management i.e. removing egg ribbons.

The LMB once established should keep the BH controlled. There may be a temporary over population of BH until the LMB's first spawn is 10"long. Until then the owner may have to target removal of small bullheads by trapping. BH enter baited traps well.

Thanks Bill!

Bill,

Any thoughts on how many YP Cecil should recommend stocking?

I'd stock YP heavy with LMB present. Even a hog YP is an easy meal for an 18" LMB. I'd stock 300-500 YP.

Thanks Rex. However there won't be any 18 inch bass for at least a couple of years- probably three. The perch will be pretty much the same size as the bass when they go in (6 to 8 inches) in August as the bass will be 4 to 5 when they go in the March or April, and the perch may be even slightly bigger the first year.

I'm thinking after a years larger perch will have to be planted on an annual basis don't you?