- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Q re: Pond Re-Stocking After Drought
Posted on 2/6/24 at 1:10 pm
Posted on 2/6/24 at 1:10 pm
We have a 1 acre pond that has been stocked with Bass, Bream and Catfish in the past in the Feliciana's. With the drought last summer the pond probably got to about 1/3 filled.
Our catfish have needed restocking for years. My thoughts were that the bass and bream were probably okay and we should just add fathead minnows and some catfish.
Anyone have experience re-stocking after a drought or drawdown?
3
Posted on 2/6/24 at 1:52 pm to JPBiscuit
quote:
Pond Re-Stocking After Drought
i would think you are correct that the bass and bream were probably okay, but numbers were likely reduced by predation from lack of food sources.
when the water gets that low there is little to no way for the food stock to survive and were most likely cleaned out by the concentrations of all the fish together
i would look to add all forms of food sources such as crawfish and different types of minnows.
would be a good idea as well with it that low to create some breeding grounds and protected areas for the food stock for the fish. often its common to put in some type of fencing or screens to keep the big fish from getting into the protected minnow breeding grounds, but still let the bait fish move freely outside of those areas
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 1:53 pm
Posted on 2/6/24 at 4:04 pm to JPBiscuit
Certainly intentional drawdowns of larger ponds and lakes are not uncommon for purposes of aquatic weed control and management, with little/minor effects on the fish population. If you feel or seen no evidence the drought has negatively affected the bass and bream population, you are likely correct.
Catfish - usually considered to be “put and take” species for smaller ponds - meaning you stock and harvest, and replace those caught over time, b/c generally they are not going to reproduce in smaller ponds as they are cavity spawners - hollowed out logs, large cans, cavities in the pond bank, etc. are usually required for them to successfully spawn.
General recommendation for a bass-bream pond, with no supplemental feeding, but fertilized, is 100 channel catfish per acre. Stock as large of fingerlings as you can buy b/c of the existing predatory fish population (LM bass). Now is a good time to stock while water temperatures are still cool - less stress on the fish.
Here is a list of Sportfish fingerling suppliers licensed to sell in LA LINK.
I also like this reference guide on managing pond and small lakes in MS - everything is relevant to LA. LINK
If it helps, I am a fisheries biologist and worked/interacted with inland pond owners for a number of years.
Catfish - usually considered to be “put and take” species for smaller ponds - meaning you stock and harvest, and replace those caught over time, b/c generally they are not going to reproduce in smaller ponds as they are cavity spawners - hollowed out logs, large cans, cavities in the pond bank, etc. are usually required for them to successfully spawn.
General recommendation for a bass-bream pond, with no supplemental feeding, but fertilized, is 100 channel catfish per acre. Stock as large of fingerlings as you can buy b/c of the existing predatory fish population (LM bass). Now is a good time to stock while water temperatures are still cool - less stress on the fish.
Here is a list of Sportfish fingerling suppliers licensed to sell in LA LINK.
I also like this reference guide on managing pond and small lakes in MS - everything is relevant to LA. LINK
If it helps, I am a fisheries biologist and worked/interacted with inland pond owners for a number of years.
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 6:21 pm
Posted on 2/6/24 at 4:31 pm to CrawDude
Thanks to all. I knew the OB would provide. We feed, no fertilizer.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 5:30 pm to JPBiscuit
I have a pond sized about 1.5 acres. We caught all of the Channel Cats we stocked. We have a healthy population of Bass. I purchased 1000 Channel Cats for around $450. After about 2 weeks, I had happy Bass and no more Catfish.
Posted on 2/6/24 at 6:20 pm to JPBiscuit
quote:
Thanks to all. I knew the OB would provide. We feed, no fertilizer.
If you feed on a routine basis you can increase the catfish stocking rate to 300 fish per acre, if you want, in a bass-bream pond.
I forgot to address your fathead minnow question: in a established pond such as yours not really necessary as the bream will provide adequate forage, but no problem adding them if you want - the LMB certainly won’t mind.
This post was edited on 2/6/24 at 6:24 pm
Posted on 2/6/24 at 9:06 pm to JPBiscuit
Otters wreaked havoc on out stocked pond this past summer(drought)
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News