Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,116
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,420
ewest 21,475
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,112
Who's Online Now
1 members (Dave Davidson1), 755 guests, and 219 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#549973 07/03/22 04:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
I'm in the process of renovating the old farm pond in South Central PA. It was a small 1/4 acre sediment pond that was built in the 50's after the Army Corps of Engineers contoured the farm. It used to hold fish long ago and is said it once had some decent bass.

The pond has been drained and we are getting ready to dig it out, expand it to 1/2 acre, and rework the drainage into the pond to keep it cleaner. Hoping to build a small oasis for my family's enjoyment. So doing some research I found this site, and here I am.

I have been lurking and reading for a while. This site is truly a treasure.

Spazzoni #549975 07/03/22 04:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 101
Offline
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 101
This place is truly a treasure. Welcome!


Fish on!,
Noel
1 member likes this: Spazzoni
Spazzoni #549976 07/03/22 05:18 PM
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
A
Online Content
A
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,861
Likes: 298
Welcome! You'll find lots of folks here who are glad to help.


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




1 member likes this: Spazzoni
Spazzoni #549977 07/03/22 05:53 PM
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
I pretty much found most of the answers I needed here. The only obstacle left seems to be finding a Hatchery to purchase the fish from.

Spazzoni #549979 07/03/22 06:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,689
Likes: 281
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,689
Likes: 281
Welcome to Pond Boss from another Pennsylvanian.

What type of fish are you interested in?


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

Spazzoni #549982 07/03/22 07:47 PM
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
I'm looking for fish that I would be interested in eating. I was a die hard fresh water fisherman the first half of my life, but during this second half I have become mostly a saltwater fisherman.

I've caught enough largemouth bass and I do not like to eat them. If I do not like to eat them, It would to be a challenge to cull largemouth correctly to maintain balance in the pond. So my interest is stocking baitfish this Fall after the pond starts filling. I do enjoy eating bluegill, crappie, and walleye when it comes to freshwater. Smallmouth aren't too bad either. After reading here, the bluegill and crappie seem to be a no go.

So I am interested in Red Ear or Pumkinseed, Yellow Perch, Smallmouth, and Hybrid stripers. Maybe even some Walleye down the road. I would have no problem frying up any of those fish to maintain a good population. I'm not scared to have a Fish Fry monthly if they're good eating. I also don't want so few fish that they become "shy" of lures.

I'm not sure what the final dimensions on the pond will be. Hoping to go as deep as possible (15ft maybe before hitting shale). Will aerate the pond. Not opposed to feeding either.

Spazzoni #549983 07/03/22 08:11 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,689
Likes: 281
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,689
Likes: 281
Bluegill are certainly good for ponds in PA, but as you mention, Crappie are generally not recommended for smaller bodies of water.

You shouldn't have any issues sourcing bluegill or yellow perch here in PA. Smallmouth and Walleye are more challenging. Certainly, money can fix some of those shortfalls. At a pond I'm working on, we are having fingerling Smallies shipped in from Hartley's in KS.

Zetts in Drifting, PA. usually has SMB but says they didn't pull off a spawn this year. Fenders Fish Farm over in OH won't starting dealing with SMB until Oct/Nov., and can't guarantee anything.

Channel Catfish will also be easy to source as well as trout, but trout will most likely be a seasonal fish that doesn't make it through the summers.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

Spazzoni #549988 07/04/22 05:55 AM
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
S
OP Offline
S
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 4
Thanks for the info.

I'm worried that the bluegill will overpopulate without LMB being present. Maybe I'm just over thinking things. I might be able to keep them in check by harvesting monthly.

Hopefully I can get the minnows and Perch into the pond this fall and hopefully next year source some SMB and HSB.

It's going to take a while to learn all of the acronyms. lol

Spazzoni #549989 07/04/22 06:07 AM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
D
Moderator
Lunker
Online Content
Moderator
Lunker
D
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028
Likes: 274
I noticed the Bluegill without bass present.

I’ve always gone with the idea that only bass can control the huge bluegill spawns and only bluegills can spawn enough to feed bass. Could crappie do it?

But, I’m concerned about crappie in a pond that size. Crappie also have booming spawns that could lead to water degradation.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
Spazzoni #549991 07/04/22 09:25 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,689
Likes: 281
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Hall of Fame 2014
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 13,689
Likes: 281
HSB should be readily available. Zett's should have them.


Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:"
"She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."

Spazzoni #550092 07/08/22 09:14 AM
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 273
A
Offline
A
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 273
Welcome to PB!

RES/SMB/YP/HSB is a great combination. That's what I did after renovating an old pond on my property.

I will tell you with 100% certainty - you don't want even one BG/HBG getting into your pond. I got a few with
the RES I bought and I've been battling to keep their numbers in check ever since.

2 members like this: RAH, FishinRod
Augie #550104 07/08/22 03:21 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
R
RAH Offline
Lunker
Offline
Lunker
R
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 5,714
Likes: 281
I only added 25 RES to my 1 acre pond so that I could individually check each one.


Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
cro, HC1968
Recent Posts
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/29/24 01:06 AM
pond experience needed
by esshup - 03/29/24 12:45 AM
New pond middle TN: establishing food chain?
by Bill Cody - 03/28/24 07:57 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by FireIsHot - 03/28/24 07:33 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by PRCS - 03/28/24 06:39 PM
Fungus infection on fish
by nvcdl - 03/28/24 06:07 PM
Can anyone ID these minnows?
by Dylanfrely - 03/28/24 05:43 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 04:48 PM
Yellow Perch Spawn 2024
by H20fwler - 03/28/24 04:29 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by LANGSTER - 03/28/24 03:49 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5