Stocking Shad in a Pond

[GravelPitSpoiled]

The pond that I frequent most (I'll call it Upper Pond) is about a half acre, and fed by runoff from a local neighborhood. When the water level is high enough, water drains from Upper over some manmade waterfalls into a larger 3 acre pond. Upper Pond is small, highly pressured, and pretty shallow but there are a couple 3-4 pounders in there. Quirky, but I love it (and its proximity to my house). 

 

I went out this morning and the water was lower and clearer than I've ever seen it, I could see pretty much every piece of structure and cover in the pond. Another thing I noticed is that it seems like there were very few baitfish, and to an untrained eye like myself, it was hard to imagine such a low population of small fish supporting the big ones. To go along with this, I've noticed a significant increase in the number of ducks and herons that are  hunting in the pond within the last month or so.

 

I don't want my local spot to dry up of solid bass, so it got me thinking. Is it worth my time to go net a bunch of shad/minnows from a larger lake (or even the lower pond) and stock Upper Pond? Or would it just be ticking into the wind.

 

Love to hear any opinions or similar stories, maybe from folks with private ponds?

[TnRiver46]

It’s hard to keep them alive if you have to drive more than 5 minutes or so 

[GravelPitSpoiled]

Its about 5 minutes away actually, thats the only reason I'm even considering taking action. 

[the reel ess]

37 minutes ago, GravelPitSpoiled said:

The pond that I frequent most (I'll call it Upper Pond) is about a half acre, and fed by runoff from a local neighborhood. When the water level is high enough, water drains from Upper over some manmade waterfalls into a larger 3 acre pond. Upper Pond is small, highly pressured, and pretty shallow but there are a couple 3-4 pounders in there. Quirky, but I love it (and its proximity to my house). 

 

I went out this morning and the water was lower and clearer than I've ever seen it, I could see pretty much every piece of structure and cover in the pond. Another thing I noticed is that it seems like there were very few baitfish, and to an untrained eye like myself, it was hard to imagine such a low population of small fish supporting the big ones. To go along with this, I've noticed a significant increase in the number of ducks and herons that are  hunting in the pond within the last month or so.

 

I don't want my local spot to dry up of solid bass, so it got me thinking. Is it worth my time to go net a bunch of shad/minnows from a larger lake (or even the lower pond) and stock Upper Pond? Or would it just be ticking into the wind.

 

Love to hear any opinions or similar stories, maybe from folks with private ponds?

They're probably eating bluegill. If it's cold, it can be hard to find any baitfish, though they're in there. That's usually the first thing I look for when I get to a small body of water. A lot of active small fish in the shallows means the bass should chase a lure. If it's cold and I see none, I suspect a slower presentation is in order. 

[GravelPitSpoiled]

1 minute ago, the reel ess said:

They're probably eating bluegill. If it's cold, it can be hard to find any baitfish, though they're in there. That's usually the first thing I look for when I get to a small body of water. A lot of active small fish in the shallows means the bass should chase a lure. If it's cold and I see none, I suspect a slower presentation is in order. 

Its currently 80 degrees and sunny ?They're definitely on bluegill, and thats what worries me. I can usually see a ton of smaller bluegill around a few key areas, but this morning I only saw 3 or 4, and they were decently sized which makes me think the smaller ones have been eaten by bass or bird. 

 

If I could stock a bunch of bluegill that would be great, but that seems unrealistic. At least shad/minnows would provide SOME food source, and I can reliably net a few dozen in a single trip. I dunno... maybe thats wishful thinking. 

[Will Ketchum]

 I wasn't sure so I looked it up.

Therefore, gizzard and threadfin shad, being filter feeders, would out-compete bluegill for food, causing a decline in the bluegill population, both in number and quality, and a corresponding decline in the bass population.

[Tennessee Boy]

It is wrong (and possibly illegal) to introduce fish into a body of water that you do not own.   Shad in a small pond can be very detrimental.  You can also introduce disease.   Many fisheries have been harmed and even destroyed by well meaning anglers that didn’t know what they were doing.   

[Team9nine]

I wouldn’t do it at this point. If the bass aren’t getting enough to eat, you’ll see it in their condition when you catch one (skinny, inverted belly, big heads). Winter is a tough time to determine available forage. Wait until spring and see what things look like. Usually a bad idea to stock shad in ponds, and you’d need “pounds” of minnows to make a difference, likely more than once a year.

[the reel ess]

19 minutes ago, GravelPitSpoiled said:

Its currently 80 degrees and sunny ?They're definitely on bluegill, and thats what worries me. I can usually see a ton of smaller bluegill around a few key areas, but this morning I only saw 3 or 4, and they were decently sized which makes me think the smaller ones have been eaten by bass or bird. 

 

If I could stock a bunch of bluegill that would be great, but that seems unrealistic. At least shad/minnows would provide SOME food source, and I can reliably net a few dozen in a single trip. I dunno... maybe thats wishful thinking. 

I fish a place like this where the bluegill are large and they're just competing with bass for minnows. You could remove as many bass as possible to get the balance back. In fact, in a pond you should remove 25 lb min. of bass per acre per year when it's balanced, even more when the balance gets out of whack toward the bluegill.

 

[WRB]

Threadfin Shad are small 3”-4” and eat phytoplankton a plant. Gizzard Shad are larger 8”-12” and eat zooplankton a animal part of the food chain for other fish.

Threadfin would not survive a shallow pond do to cold water temps below 45 dregees. Gizzard will destroy the ponds ecosystem.

Most ducks don’t eat fish, Herons do! 

Texas has a good Fishery Management program, call them before transferring any fish pond to pond.

Tom

[Tennessee Boy]

https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=FishandWildlife&prId=457

[Bankc]

There's a local pond near me that you can usually find tons of baitfish swimming around.  However, this is winter.  So, you won't likely find any.  I fish there just about every day, so I notice these changes.  They're still in there, and they'll show back up in spring, but they're not swimming around being active right now.  Our air temperature is in the 70's this week.  But the water temperature is still really cold.  

 

So don't worry about it.  This is normal.  Besides, if you do introduce new fish, besides disease, it's going to be really, really hard to get those fish into the new pond without killing them by way of thermal shock.  The winter is a really, really bad time to try this.  Besides, bass don't hardly eat in the winter time anyway.  

[BASS302]

2 hours ago, GravelPitSpoiled said:

Is it worth my time to go net a bunch of shad/minnows from a larger lake (or even the lower pond) and stock Upper Pond?

 

Your location is listed as Texas.  Please read your fishing regulations.

 

 

[GravelPitSpoiled]

2 hours ago, BASS302 said:

 

Your location is listed as Texas.  Please read your fishing regulations.

 

 

This still leaves the option of taking some bluegill from the lower pond and plopping them in the upper (its probably technically the same body of water), but based on everyones suggestions, I'll probably just leave it be... sure hope the pond doesn't die out.

[PotatoLake]

Bass eat everything, if there are no baitfish they'll eat insects, snakes, frogs, birds, worms and crawfish. I wouldn't worry about it.

[GravelPitSpoiled]

9 hours ago, PotatoLake said:

Bass eat everything, if there are no baitfish they'll eat insects, snakes, frogs, birds, worms and crawfish. I wouldn't worry about it.

Crawfish... now THATS an idea I hadn't considered! ?

[Bluebasser86]

Stock golden shiners or fathead minnows instead. Either can establish and maintain a population and neither regularly grows large enough to become too large to be too big for a bass to eat like a shad can. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

I have a pond on my property and I can tell you what I have done in regards to non-fish forage. I use several hand made crawfish traps at local small streams to catch crawfish. I bait with floating catfish pellets that sink after they become waterlogged and they work well. I have released hundreds of crawfish into my pond. I also release most types of fish I catch as well but this is my private pond I am talking about, not a public pond like you are using. I also like to go "critter hunting" with a net and catch lots of aquatic insects, tadpoles, crawfish, salamanders ect. With that said, this time of year when the water is clear and cold, I see very few bluegill and none of my introduced forage.

 

In my opinion you should follow the previous replies and leave it alone since it is illegal to introduce fish into public waters. Bluebasser86's idea about shiners and fatheads is good but it is can be expensive and you will not be the only person benefiting from the introduction. Also the property owners may have an objection to your efforts, although it would not hurt to last. I can get fatheads (Tuffies) locally for about 11.00 per pound so for a couple hundred dollars I can load the pond up. Unfortunately they do not last long with the LM population.

 

One other thing....bluegill are prolific. If there are any adults at all, they will spawn several times a year. My pond has swarms of bluegill fry constantly all summer long.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

5 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

I have a pond on my property and I can tell you what I have done in regards to non-fish forage. I use several hand made crawfish traps at local small streams to catch crawfish. I bait with floating catfish pellets that sink after they become waterlogged and they work well. I have released hundreds of crawfish into my pond. I also release most types of fish I catch as well but this is my private pond I am talking about, not a public pond like you are using. I also like to go "critter hunting" with a net and catch lots of aquatic insects, tadpoles, crawfish, salamanders ect. With that said, this time of year when the water is clear and cold, I see very few bluegill and none of my introduced forage.

 

In my opinion you should follow the previous replies and leave it alone since it is illegal to introduce fish into public waters. Bluebasser86's idea about shiners and fatheads is good but it is can be expensive and you will not be the only person benefiting from the introduction. Also the property owners may have an objection to your efforts, although it would not hurt to last. I can get fatheads (Tuffies) locally for about 11.00 per pound so for a couple hundred dollars I can load the pond up. Unfortunately they do not last long with the LM population.

 

One other thing....bluegill are prolific. If there are any adults at all, they will spawn several times a year. My pond has swarms of bluegill fry constantly all summer long.

Bob, do you follow the Pond Boss?    He does live Facebook Q&As, he's already answered a bunch of questions of mine during these.    

 

I think you would love his information.    

[Blue Raider Bob]

2 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

Bob, do you follow the Pond Boss?    He does live Facebook Q&As, he's already answered a bunch of questions of mine during these.    

 

I think you would love his information.    

Thanks Alex!

I do not do Facebook but I did register on the Pond Boss Forum. My main issue with my pond is the clear water has caused a serious algae problem. I have got filamentous algae and Chara taking over my pond. I have had to introduce a water dye to darken the pond somewhat to goofball the growth. When the water warms I can use a copper based algaecide but they are harmful to zooplankton. The problems never end.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

39 minutes ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Thanks Alex!

I do not do Facebook but I did register on the Pond Boss Forum. My main issue with my pond is the clear water has caused a serious algae problem. I have got filamentous algae and Chara taking over my pond. I have had to introduce a water dye to darken the pond somewhat to goofball the growth. When the water warms I can use a copper based algaecide but they are harmful to zooplankton. The problems never end.

I went over to the forum last night to see when the last time Bob Lusk posted, and it seems he doesn't participate that much on the forum as of recent.     If you have a specific question or two, send them to my inbox, and I'll ask him during the next live session.

 

The man is a wealth of incredible knowledge, and you are in the awesome and unique position to benefit from it.   

 

Lots of work and money for a high-quality pond, but I'd rather have that then a Ferrari or 911 that would cost similar money.     Playing creator in your backyard is a pretty cool hobby.

 

The Pond Boss was talking about La Palma in Texas, and how the guy has spent millions of dollars trying to grow the next WR LGM, and today he's as far from that reality as when he started albeit still producing amazing fish.       Mankind's hand has nothing on God's or Nature's

 

 

[garroyo130]

21 hours ago, GravelPitSpoiled said:

The pond that I frequent most (I'll call it Upper Pond) is about a half acre, and fed by runoff from a local neighborhood. When the water level is high enough, water drains from Upper over some manmade waterfalls into a larger 3 acre pond. Upper Pond is small, highly pressured, and pretty shallow but there are a couple 3-4 pounders in there. Quirky, but I love it (and its proximity to my house). 

 

I went out this morning and the water was lower and clearer than I've ever seen it, I could see pretty much every piece of structure and cover in the pond. Another thing I noticed is that it seems like there were very few baitfish, and to an untrained eye like myself, it was hard to imagine such a low population of small fish supporting the big ones. To go along with this, I've noticed a significant increase in the number of ducks and herons that are  hunting in the pond within the last month or so.

 

I don't want my local spot to dry up of solid bass, so it got me thinking. Is it worth my time to go net a bunch of shad/minnows from a larger lake (or even the lower pond) and stock Upper Pond? Or would it just be ticking into the wind.

 

Love to hear any opinions or similar stories, maybe from folks with private ponds?

 

Where abouts are you? Don't worry I exclusively fish my quarry 

[thediscochef]

22 hours ago, GravelPitSpoiled said:

The pond that I frequent most (I'll call it Upper Pond) is about a half acre, and fed by runoff from a local neighborhood. When the water level is high enough, water drains from Upper over some manmade waterfalls into a larger 3 acre pond. Upper Pond is small, highly pressured, and pretty shallow but there are a couple 3-4 pounders in there. Quirky, but I love it (and its proximity to my house). 

 

I went out this morning and the water was lower and clearer than I've ever seen it, I could see pretty much every piece of structure and cover in the pond. Another thing I noticed is that it seems like there were very few baitfish, and to an untrained eye like myself, it was hard to imagine such a low population of small fish supporting the big ones. To go along with this, I've noticed a significant increase in the number of ducks and herons that are  hunting in the pond within the last month or so.

 

I don't want my local spot to dry up of solid bass, so it got me thinking. Is it worth my time to go net a bunch of shad/minnows from a larger lake (or even the lower pond) and stock Upper Pond? Or would it just be ticking into the wind.

 

Love to hear any opinions or similar stories, maybe from folks with private ponds?

If conditions are such that existing forage spawns can't keep up with the current predator population, no amount of introduced forage will self-sustain without continued, increasing, and indefinite intervention. That's the hard part about small water in most of texas. it doesn't stay very consistent. If you go back through the TPWD pond stocking records you'll note relatively few LMB stockings in Texas ponds...it's overwhelmingly channel cats, sunfishes, and winter trout. 

[garroyo130]

27 minutes ago, thediscochef said:

If conditions are such that existing forage spawns can't keep up with the current predator population, no amount of introduced forage will self-sustain without continued, increasing, and indefinite intervention. That's the hard part about small water in most of texas. it doesn't stay very consistent. If you go back through the TPWD pond stocking records you'll note relatively few LMB stockings in Texas ponds...it's overwhelmingly channel cats, sunfishes, and winter trout. 

 

Winter trout here in 5 days. Calendar is marked!

[thediscochef]

2 hours ago, garroyo130 said:

 

Winter trout here in 5 days. Calendar is marked!

we've had some up here already but I'm not much for catch and keep lol