Ok so I have a 2.5-3 acre lake that’s not been re-stocked since it was built in 76. Hasn’t been managed or fertilized in years. We just go catch some bream and bass a few times a spring. We’re starting to fish more and even my wife is enjoying it. The dam leaks and it loses 1/4 of its water in a hot dry summer, but it’s deep, so it’s 10’ deep even when low. Prob 15’ deep and full as a tic now! I just want to add to it and am not interested in trying to kill all the fish off. Good healthy bream in it now and small stunted bass. Was thinking about 200 catfish, 200 copper nose, 100 shell cracker and maybe 100 hybrid crappie. Plus I’m gonna put in 500-1000 of those mosquito fish for food. Good idea, bad idea, way off? I’ve started fertilizing this year and I plan to feed some too. Prob gonna add some fatheads next year.
Just looking for opinions here, not interested in paying for pond management.
Thanks.

PM Lefthorn,

I just built a pond that was completed 18 months ago. I'd say your plan sounds ok to me. The number one thing I'd do right off the bat is get a fish feeder and feed them a few times a day some high quality fish feed.

And maybe add some fathead minnows or adult spawning talapia to help feed the bass.

We have three pound bass now after just 18 months, but we are consistently feeding them.

If it was mine I'd just put catfish and start feeding.

Yep lefthorn can pH test it to see how much lime is needed, then he can recommend further.

Lefthorn can tell you the right way. I'm 3 years on a new pond doing it .myself and I can tell you my mistakes. If you have bass you will need something to help take the pressure off of the other fish (flathead minnows and cover). IF you were stocking bass the other fish would need a 2-3 year head start. I have read bad things about crappie in a pond but didn't put crappie in. Sounded to me like they would be fine then for no reason have a tremendous jump in population stunting their size. Catfish, it you decide on some, grow real fast, will be eaten by the bass when small, but if they make it to good eating size, eat them THEN!! Otters totally wiped mine out over 1 winter. Honestly, if I would have hired someone I probably would have spent the same money but been right to start with. I'm still correcting my errors.

If your pond only drops 25% over our summers, well, if be dang happy with that.

I'd get the leaking dam fixed before anything.

Yeah I’m not putting in black crappie, heard they’d take over, but the hybrids are not supposed to spawn much at all. My lake stayed full for 20 years , but the leak is outpacing the spring......
Was one Hell of a lake when I was a kid.

First things first, if you have adult bass, don’t bother stocking fatheads or gambusia (mosquito fish). They won’t last 48 hours.

Second, if you have small bass and big bluegill, you are more than likely bass crowded and need some forage fish (bluegill and/or shad). However, stocking rates should be WAY higher than what you posted. I wouldn’t waste money on what you posted.

As far as catfish, they are personal preference. I don’t care for them but that’s just me. They will compete a little with your bass. But you can feed them and limit that.

Shoot me a pm and we can talk further

Pm’d Ya