2013 Pond Clinic

PONDS CREATE MEMORIES
FISH IN PONDS
OLD & NEW FISH
COMBINATIONS
AND OPTIONS
ADVANCED FISH
MANAGEMENT TOPICS
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MANAGING OLDER EXISTING FISHERIES
NEW WAYS TO MANAGE FISH
NEW CONCEPTS OF FISH FOR PONDS
YOU CAN GROW BIG FISH IN SMALL PONDS
ONLINE HELP AND ADVICE
Professional, Unbiased,
Experienced, Dependable, Free
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The Pond Boss Forum
IT’S ALL ABOUT GOALS
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NO FISH ?
SWIMMING POND ?
DOMESTIC WATER USE ?
TROPHY FISH ?
GOOD FISHING CATCH LOTS - ALL SIZES?
SPECIALTY FISHING ?
GOOD FISH MANAGEMENT
SECRETS
• POPULATION CONTROL
TOO MANY FISH RESULT IN:
1. LACK OF FOOD FOR ALL FISH
2. POOR GROWTH
• CHOOSE FISH THAT DON’T REPRODUCE
OR HAVE FEW OFFSPRING GIVES BETTER
POPULATION CONTROL
STANDARD FISH STOCKINGS
• BLUEGILL - SUNFISH
• LARGEMOUTH BASS
• CHANNEL CATFISH
BLUEGILL – LARGEMOUTH BASS
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MOST COMMON
STANDARD STOCKING
LONG SUCCESS RATE
HIGH HARVEST RATE
POPULAR OPTION
LAST RESORT COMBO
MANAGEMENT OPTIONS
1. TROPHY PANFISH
2. TROPHY LM BASS
3.GENERAL FISHING
TROPHY PANFISH OPTION
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PROPER NUMBERS
ABUNDANT SM BASS
ABUNDANT FOOD
FEED THE FISH
PROPER HARVEST
TROPHY BASS OPTION
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PROPER NUMBERS
FEW BASS /acre
MANY SM BLUEGILL
ABUNDANT FOOD
PROPER HARVEST
HOOK SHY FISH
GENERAL FISHING
OPTION
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STOCK CORRECTLY
NUMEROUS SIZES
SIZE LESS IMPORTANT
10:1 BGILL : BASS RATIO
SELECTIVE HARVEST
REMOVE LARGER BASS
FEED FISH = MORE FISH
CHANNEL CATFISH
CHANNEL CATFISH
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WILL GET LARGE
EAT FISH PELLETS
PREDATOR AT NIGHT
BONUS FISH ?
EATS LOTS OF FISH
BENEFICIAL ?
ARE NOT BOTTOM
CLEANERS
ADVANCED FISH MANAGEMENT
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UNCOMMON POND FISH
THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE
DIFFERENT PREDATORS & PREY COMBOS
DIFFERENT STOCKING STRATEGIES
EXTRA MANAGEMENT EFFORTS
CREATE A UNIQUE FISHERY
STOCKERS CAN BE HARD TO LOCATE
MAY NEED TO
RENOVATE OLD POND
IF IT HAS
LARGEMOUTH AND BLUEGILL
OR UNDESIRABLE FISH
RENOVATION
$ 400 - 600 /ACRE
IT IS IMPORTANT TO
MATCH THE PREDATOR
WITH THE PROPER
FORAGE FISH
MOUTH SIZE IS IMPORTANT
FISH SWALLOW FISH WHOLE
BLUEGILL & YELLOW PERCH
COMPRESSED - ROUND
FUSIFORM - ELONGATE
MINNOWS & SHINERS –
FUSIFORM FORAGE
BLUEGILLS & SUNFISH
COMPRESSED SHAPES
ALTERNATIVE SPECIES
CAN THRIVE IN PONDS
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REDEAR / PUMPKINSEED SUNFISH
HYBRID BLUEGILL
YELLOW PERCH
HYBRID STRIPED BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS
WALLEYE
REDEAR SUNFISH
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LOW REPRODUCTION
LM BASS STAY SMALLER
LIVE DEEPER
NO BITING SWIMMERS
EAT SNAILS
NOT EASY TO CATCH
USE LIVE BAIT
WITH - SMALLMOUTH,
HYBRID STRIPPED BASS,
LM BASS & BLUEGILL
HYBRID BLUEGILL
CROSS BLUEGILL
WITH GREEN SUNFISH
PRODUCES
HYBRID BLUEGILL
75% TO 95% MALES
EASY TO CATCH
AGGRESSIVE
HYBRID BLUEGILL
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HYBRID VIGOR - 11”
EAT PELLETS
MOSTLY MALES
LOW REPRODUCTION
EASY TO CATCH
NEED TO RESTOCK
BITE SWIMMERS
NEED LOTS SMALL BASS
WILL BACKCROSS
PERCH GROW WELL IN PONDS
YELLOW PERCH
WILL EAT FISH FOOD
GROW TO 12”-15”
MARKET - $14 - $19/LB
NOT WITH
LARGEMOUTH BASS
• PREFERRED PREDATORS:
HYBRID STRIPED BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS OR
WALLEYE
FORAGE: MINNOW - SHINER
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HYBRID STRIPED BASS
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HAVE SMALL MOUTH
RAISED ON FISH FOOD
GROWS FAST
HARD FIGHTER
NO REPRODUCTION
LIVES IN OPEN WATER
HYBRID STRIPED BASS
HYBRID STRIPED BASS
BEST FORAGE FISH
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YELLOW PERCH
REDEAR SUNFISH
HYBRID BLUEGILL
GOLDEN SHINER
FISH PELLETS
MOUTH SIZE OF BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS
LARGEMOUTH BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS
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LIVE IN WARM WATER
HARD TO LOCATE
MORE COSTLY
LOW REPRODUCTION
NO BLUEGILLS
EASY TO CATCH
DO NOT THRIVE WITH
LARGEMOUTH BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS
BEST FORAGE FISH
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YELLOW PERCH
MINNOWS
SHINERS
REDEAR SUNFISH
HYBRID BLUEGILL
CRAYFISH
FISH PELLETS
NO BLUEGILL
WALLEYE
WILL GROW IN PONDS
RESTOCKING NEEDED
NO BLUEGILLS
NO LARGEMOUTH
DIFFICULT TO CATCH
WORK WELL – PERCH
MINNOWS, SHINERS
• WILL NOT EAT PELLETS
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WALLEYE
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WITH YELLOW PERCH
SHINERS – MINNOWS
REDEAR SUNFISH
CRAYFISH
• RESTOCK LARGER SIZE
MATCH PREDATOR WITH PREY
HYBRID STRIPED BASS
SMALLMOUTH BASS
WALLEYE
LARGEMOUTH BASS
BLUEGILL
REDEAR SUNFISH
HYBRID BLUEGILL
CATFISH OPTIONAL
YELLOW PERCH DO NOT
THRIVE WELL HERE - NEED
SUPPLEMENTAL STOCKING
OF LARGE PERCH
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YELLOW PERCH
REDEAR SUNFISH
MINNOWS
GOLDEN SHINERS
CRAYFISH
HYBRID BLUEGILL ? ?
RAINBOW TROUT OPTION
• ANNUAL STOCKING
10”-14” SIZES
• FALL TO SUMMER
• GROW FAST
• EAT FISH FOOD
• BLUE TILAPIA SUMMER
SMALL TROUT POND
WITH WELL WATER 0.1 AC
POND MANAGEMENT - DYE
RAISE FISH WITH BLUE DYE
FEEDING FISH = PROBLEMS
BLUE TILAPIA
• EAT STRING ALGAE
• YOUNG EAT THE MOST OF
THE ALGAE
• WANT FEW OR NO BASS
• 20-30 LBS /ACRE
• ANNUAL STOCKING
• WARM WATER 60F-90F
• DIE AT 45F
• DO NOT WORK WELL WITH
LARGER BASS
• BASS EAT MOST OFFSPRING
IB Nature Image
STUBBY STEVE PELLET FISH LURE
www.stubbysteve.com
DIFFICULT FISH SPECIES
IN PONDS
• CRAPPIE - SPECIAL MGMT
• GREEN SUNFISH
• KOI & COMMON CARP
• FLATHEAD CATFISH
• BLUE CATFISH
PONDS CREATE MEMORIES