advise on pond stocking
 

i got this pond about 60 yards long and 25 yards wide and currently i only have 30 bass in there. the weeds get realy bad in there and i dont want to spend an arm and a leg to control them my buddy suggested putting in one big carp to eat up the weeds a little. also i would like to put some trout in their but would that be a problem with the bass in there too? let me know if u got any info thanks

RE: advise on pond stocking
 

Wow, only 30? Dude, you are way overstocked for that little hole. Most fish managers recommend no more than 50 bass per acre in stocking. You probably overdid it by 10 times or so. Better thin them out, or all you will have is little 1/2 bass everywhere.

RE: advise on pond stocking
 

i bet that sucker heats up in the summer too.....trout more then likely wont survive....and id say its already overstocked and will stunt the growth of the fish.....my friends pond was about an acre or so probably a little less......and we never took any out....and they constantly reproduced nicely......bass and gills......but the gills all stayed small and the bass didnt get big......we took some gills out and they all grew....but then beavers came in and flooded the pond and it killed everything........no more pond......i think they quit working and the damn broke and the pond is probably just a crater or a mud hole now...........too bad......good luck....maybe find a friend with machines that can dig you a bigger pond or something....but id say you have too much in there already

RE: advise on pond stocking
 

Get a friend with machines , and dig it to about an acre atleast around , then dig it to about 25 ft deep in the deep spot , but remember to leave some ledges and stuff that are shallower , then put a bush or two in there for cover , and soem tires or something , put rocks in a part of it at about 10-15 ft so you have it all , a rock bed , deep cool water , shallow water , cover , then throw in about 3 carp , 4 cats , some bass , trout , and even a few walleye if you want , but if i were you i would make sure i had atleast one fresh water spring feeding the pond , with a small stream to flow out , constant water movement is key in backyard ponds , you need them to stay cool and oxygenated!

RE: advise on pond stocking
 

small ponds can grow large bass fairly easily, but as far as trout it really would have to be deep and cold and very oxygenated.

RE: advise on pond stocking
 

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So true :D Take my 30 yard wide, 8 ft deep pond. about 1/8 of an acre, and I've caught 3 bass over 5 lbs in it. :D

RE: advise on pond stocking
 

Every professional lake/pond management company I've dealt with suggests about the same mix of fish in order to grow a healthy population. First of all depending on the level of oxygen and nutrients available a pond can only support so many pounds of fish per acre. An average body of water can support 330 lbs of fish per acre. The recommended stocking mix is roughly 5 bluegill to each bass. Don't worry too much about overpopulation of bluegill as the bass will eat smaller bluegill. Its doubtful your pond can support walleye. They most likely won't reproduce, but may live. Trout are pretty much out of the question unless it is fed by a cold natural spring. Best of luck...