First make sure you have bait fish in there
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First make sure you have bait fish in there
Get some big bluegill so they can spawn and hopefully not fit in the catfish's mouth.
I'd probably stock just bluegill first and let them get established before introducing other predators.
Shad are great, but they just aren't as hearty as bluegill and bluegill spawn multiple times per year. If you can get shad too, that's even better.
Stock fathead minnows . But tremenber if it floods your fish could leave
STOCK copper nose bluegill, channels cats (3-4"), and red ear sunfish, aka shell crackers, the first year to establish the forage base and allow the cats to grow to 8" and are not vulnerable to bass. Stock bass in the second year. If you have available land to establish nursery ponds above the 35 acre lake. This allows the nursery ponds to be drained yearly and restocking the main lake with forage.. additional minnows, bass, catfish, bluegill or whatever you want to. After 3 years THEN you could stock BLACK CRAPPIE ONLY at a low rate. It takes 3 years for the bass to build sufficient year classes to stay on top of the crappie.
This is based on Homer Swingle, Auburn University, in the 1950's. He was the grandfather of Farm Pond Management. This is the recipe that works from Canada to Mexico
Stock 500 copper nose/red ear per surface acre, 75% coppernose and 25% red ears, 100 channel cat/acre, 100 bass/acre, BLACK CRAPPIE 200 for the entire 35 acre impoundment. This requires a high amount of capital initially. Reduce amount to about 10 acres worth will get the job done nicely