Reply With QuoteThen those ponds have a very efficient predator population and I bet the crappie are black crappie. No, ODWC is not wrong, but the ponds that you speak of are balanced and have a heavy predator population to keep them balanced.
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Crappie.com 1K Star General
Can't tell you how many good crappie I have pulled out of ponds less than one acre but I have seen even more small ponds go dink city with white crappie; however I have never seen a pond overpopulate with BC, which forage on a wider variety of bait and lay fewer eggs to boot.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
Then those ponds have a very efficient predator population and I bet the crappie are black crappie. No, ODWC is not wrong, but the ponds that you speak of are balanced and have a heavy predator population to keep them balanced.
Crappie.com Legend and AL Moderator
Thinking out loud..... I have two ponds that need restocking. Both are three to five acres. I am thinking black crappie and minnows with some bream in one. And some bass in the other. Every body says stay away from crappie but that is what I like to fish for.
Crappie.com 1K Star General
I agree with you and your formula and I even suppose that it would be nice to have one pond stocked with bass so you could bowfish on occasion when your arms get tired cranking in those huge black slabs you're gonna produce. I'm pretty sure I would pay to fish a pond that big and that far south stocked with BC and plenty of forage fish. And I would bet that nobody out there has ever seen a pond overstocked with dink blacks. Somehow they seem to kind of cycle and self regulate with good numbers for a year or so and then a down year. I don't pretend to understand why but I have noticed this phenomena in my own pond and those I fished as a kid. Good luck- been considering digging a new pond dedicated to BC and baitfish, pond shiners probably so I would love to hear from anyone who has tried that.
Crappie.com 3K Star General
Try to stock the pond with threadfin shad if possible. You are far enough South that they would survive. Crappie feed on soft ray fish such as shad, shiners and fatheads. Why you ask? Because the crappie vacuum in the minnows, fold them in half and swallow. Bluegill and redears are hard ray fish and are more difficult to swallow because of the hard dorsal fins. I will post a couple of pics of some BC that were caught Saturday from a 10 acre managed watershed lake that I manage. The BC's are pigs averaging 13 - 15 inches.
CC - This ought to make you grin
Crappie ciller LIKED above post
Crappie.com 1K Star General
Where's my pictures?
Crappie.com 3K Star General
Patience Grasshoppa, I will get you a picture or two shortly. The 2 fish hit a 4 inch goldfish and a 3 inch shiner.
Crappie.com 1K Star General
The anticipation has me all on edge- not sure I can sleep General George! Where dem pitchers man?
Crappie.com 3K Star General
LOL
Crappie Wall Hanger II
IMO and I mean no disrespect to anyone.............there are many many great crappie fisherman here, but being a great fisherman does not necessarily make one educated in specific habitats and conditions of individual small bodies of water..........Stocking a pond in an effort to eventually harvest quality fish can be an expensive undertaking.
If I were you I would contact your fish and game department.........they have educated employees that can go into real detail on what you need to do, If it is even advisable for that particular body of water.....And many other variables. I'm sure fish and game would be happy to send someone out to survey the pond and give real assistance in stocking, along with any improvements you may need to do before stocking the pond...........
