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zyglok
Junior Member
MS
122 Posts |
 Posted - 09/16/2002 : 21:44:45
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They did a sample of it this past week, nice guys too. The pond is loaded with bass mostly small, and green sunfish. Also at least one 10 lb channel cat that they almost netted, coulda had a good dinner there. Anyways, the suggestion was to drain the pond (12 ft at its deepest at least), and start over. Not what I was expecting as the answer hehe.
So I've got access to some super pumps 1000 to 6000 gal per min, which I plan to use to drain the pond with and into a creek that runs less than about 40 feet from one end of it. I think I've got the draining covered pretty well and can do it fairly quickly as they suggested draining it soon.
My question now is what to stock it back with after killing them all off? I've always said I'd like catfish, but I wonder how they would do in this size pond. I'm pretty sure there is no structure and plan to put some things in while it is drained out.
If catfish is a good option I'd like to know the stocking directions and what else if anything should be put in with them, what time of year etc... I'm thinking I could have it drained within about 2 weeks and everything killed off and hopefully begin working on structures. Any suggestions on structure for catfish if they are a good option would be appreciated as well.
If catfish are not a good option for the pond then I'll go back with bass, bluegill, and redear. Might could even have enough water by November or so to stock the bream possibly.
Thanks for any suggestions, points to note, things to avoid, and links to good resources.
John
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John Mason
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zyglok
Junior Member
MS
122 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2002 : 10:37:54
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I've done a little more reading and research since yesterday and have come up with these numbers. I would appreciate it if someone would tell me if I'm close or way way off :)
2.5 acre pond
875 bluegill(coppernose or native, can you mix these?)
375 redear
1250 fathead minnows
125 channel cat
125 bass (next spring)
I'm wondering if it would be better to wait until next fall/winter to stock the channel cat and if so would I have to use a larger fish?
Thanks!
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John Mason |
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xpressman
Junior Member
AR
105 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2002 : 16:30:21
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just wondering...why dont you just kill the pond with chemicals instead of going to the trouble of draining all of it? The chemicals the game and fish uses to do fish kills is supposedly safe.(they use it all the time here in arkansas).
Unless you prefer them, stay away from the bass (they will eventually take over). Your crappie,bream, and cats will get big in size and numbers very quick without them bass. I love bass fishin and i tournament fish a lot, but my pond is completely absent of bass.
Just whatever floats your boat!!!!!
Good luck
XPRESSMAN-
Edited by - xpressman on 09/17/2002 16:31:37 |
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zyglok
Junior Member
MS
122 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2002 : 11:38:28
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The question would then be how much chemicals would you need to kill off the pond about 2.5 acres with an average depth of 6 feet and a maximum depth over about 1/8 of it of 11 to 12 feet?
What would the cost of that be versus the cost of gas to drain it?
I'm not sure how to calculate how much water is in the pond, so I'm not sure how long it would take to drain it pumping 1000 gal/min or 6000 gal/min.
Whichever is the most cost effective.
Hopefully someone can answer whether or not you can mix these (coppernose and native bluegill) in the mix listed above?
Also, crappie would never be an option for such a small pond.
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John Mason
Edited by - zyglok on 09/19/2002 15:06:28 |
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xpressman
Junior Member
AR
105 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2002 : 17:01:27
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hey, i'll be perfectly honest with you that i am no fisheries expert. I am a avid outdoorsman and knowledgeable in all areas of the outdoors. I will say that i own a small pond that is around 2 acres in size and i have great numbers of redear bream, catfish, and wonderful crappie. The pond is full of all three, and they seem to flurish. Of course, i have also stocked a lot of shiners and minnows.
But if you dont like crappie, that's your opinion.
And i am not sure how much it would cost to "kill" the pond, but i am sure the division of wildlife and fisheries can tell you. They might even come out and do it for you(for a price).
I dont have any specifics to tell you.
Good luck
XPRESSMAN-
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zyglok
Junior Member
MS
122 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2002 : 17:33:22
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Thanks for your feedback. I'm attempting now to find out how much would be needed and how much it would cost. The draining for me is very feasible though, as I have access to high volume pumping equipment, but I still will need some rotenone to kill off what the pumps can't get too.
BTW I like crappie, its just that seems to be a big NO NO by all the experts. Maybe you stay on top of them enough that it isn't a problem for you.
Hopefully some of the moderators will have some input for me soon as well.
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John Mason |
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John Skains
Moderator
MS
288 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2002 : 09:41:36
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1 gallon of 5% rotenone will treat 3 acre-feet of water. 2.5 acres with an average depth of 6 ft equals 15 acre-feet. So you would need to use a minimum of 5 gallons of rotenone to kill the pond (a little extra would not hurt). At $70/gallon cost would be $350. I would still recommend draining the pond to make sure no fish survive, green sunfish can be tough to eradicate.
Coppernose and native bluegill can be mixed with no problem. If you can, go with 100% Coppernose. I think the faster growth rates are worth the extra cost.
The stocking rates you have given are correct. It would be best to wait until the fall following the bass stocking to stock the catfish. This gives the bream a jump over the competition.
You are also right that crappie are a big "no no" in this size pond.
John Skains |
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xpressman
Junior Member
AR
105 Posts |
Posted - 09/23/2002 : 11:04:19
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can you tell me a little more about why crappie are a no no!
just curious?
XPRESSMAN-
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NCFishBio1
Starting Member
NC
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2003 : 13:36:18
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| xpressman -- just joined the forum and thought I might shoot you a late reply. In NC, we generally don't recommend stocking crappies in ponds as they spawn too early and grow too fast to provide adequete forage for young bass. Thus the potential for overcrowding of crappies is high. Without bass and angler harvest to control their numbers, crappies usually stunt. A lot of our small impoundments (< 200 ac.) have crappies 8-10 years old, all smaller than 8 inches. I would expect the same holds true for Arkansas, but you can contact the AR Game and Fish Commission to find out. |
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stony
Junior Member
310 Posts |
Posted - 07/16/2003 : 20:38:37
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| My little amount of research says you should stock the cats at the same time as the bream and coppernose to give them time to grow. If you want to put them in after the bass, you will have to stock larger cats, therefore more money spent. |
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Len
Better Than Average Member
MS
873 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2003 : 07:37:15
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I have a pond just about an acre. I just bought the land ad the pond is 14 years old. Definately overstocked with bass. The previous owner said he put 300 fingerling catfish in 2 years ago. 1500 hundred in when the pond was stocked. I don't see any small catfish. I have seen some that must be original stock. Two days in a row my son has broken 30 pound test line trying to get one of them in. When I cast feed out, I only see about 5 or 6 big cats and nothing smaller. They are huge. Could these monsters be the cause of the disproportioned population. I might just start over, I believe they would eat anything else I would put in there. I would seign the fish out first and salvage all I could.
Len Marshall |
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John Skains
Moderator
MS
288 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2003 : 10:24:25
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Are these channel catfish? If so they should be causing the problem with the fish population. Sounds like the problem is little or no bass harvest. Most, if not all, of the fingerling catfish, stocked 2 years ago, were sucked up by the bass.
John Skains |
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