Printable View
Looking into building a 3 acre pond in southern Illinois. My dream pond would consist of bluegill, crappie and walleye. That's my idea of great table fare. I know placing crappie into a small pond is typically frowned upon, but wondering if walleye could be stocked to keep crappie in check. I'm aware that walleye typically won't breed in my area. Any thoughts on stocking or pond design?
Check out the pond boss magazine . There may be a forum of it online.I would give extra attention to creating good bluegill spawning areas and block access to them from both water and shore. Please read Missouri state report about negative effect of Hybrid Bluegill.
Trophy pond is a new sponsor here, id call them. their logo is at the bottom of this page.
White crappie will over take a pond in no time but black crappies fare much better. What about LMB and some channel cats to keep the crappies from overtaking of a pond and stunting the fish.
Might want to talk to the states biologist Mike Mounce. His number is 217 345 2420. He is willing to help anyone out that have concerns about developing a fishery.
As stated above stock black crappie instead of whites.
My passion is for crappie and bluegill. Really not a fan of catfishing. Largemouth are OK but would prefer walleye as a predator to manage crappie. Ill give Mike Mounce a call. Since the pond hasn't been designed yet, Im hoping there's a way to design it to help with management.
Don't know where you are at but herrman brothers seem to have it figured out.they are on heartlandoutdoors.com a lot showing their successes. Go to hbpondmanagement.com and their properties giantgooseranch.com.Quote:
Originally Posted by jaytmann
I'm in south central Il and have walleye in my pond. They've done incredibly well. Stocked them at 5" last Dec(2013),and they're now 14". I also had a huge forage base of fathead minnows for them to grow quickly on. I stocked smallmouth at the same time--2", and they're now a healthy 10". I added adult yellow perch and golden shiners this December. I got all my fish except the perch and shiners from Logan Hollow fish Farm and could not be more satisfied with them. You can only get walleye in the winter, and they have a pretty small mouth gape to handle crappie. You might consider hybrid striped bass as a predator for the crappies if you're bent on having them.
I put bluegill, redear, yellow perch and smallmouth in mine in central Illinois. Seem to be doing well. I used Nate Herman with Herman pond management.
Good to know Ringtails. I've bought fish from Logan Hollow in past. Will fathead minnows breed? Where did you end up getting perch and golden shiners?
Since you're starting w/a new pond, make fatheads the first thing you put in and wait a minimum of a year before adding predators. Adding them to an existing pond is just a waste IMO. They're only a snack to the predators already in there. They and red ears and hybrid bluegill were the first fish to go in my new pond. Fatheads in a new pond reproduce like crazy--you won't believe it. They breed on the undersides of things, so provide that for them. I used 15 pallets on my one acre pond, and by its second year their numbers were staggering. They don't last forever tho', and you'll need something else for your predators later on. I went with golden shiners since my redear and hybrids don't reproduce much. I found the shiners and perch from Rex Rains of R and S Ranch out of St Louis--super nice guy and outstanding adult/breeding fish.
I have an established pond that I've been fishing since I was a kid. A couple years ago there was a big shad kill. The pond is an old quarry pit and has LM bass, white bass, crappie, walleye, bluegill, carp, blue cat and channel cat. What's the best baitfish to stock in an established pond?