Pond Stocking and Management

Bluegills provide most of the "take home" catch and most of the forage for largemouth bass. A bluegill rarely exceeds one pound in weight, but pound for pound it is the sportiest fish around. The average size caught is 6 to 7 inches and 1/4 to 1/3 pounds. Bluegills live about five years, but 13-year-olds have been recorded. Bluegills reach sexual maturity at age one with a 4-inch female producing about 4,000 eggs.

Spawning takes place from May through late August. Male bluegills build nests (shallow depressions) in shallow water and lure a female to the nest to lay eggs. The male guards the eggs and nest during incubation which takes 2 to 5 days. He continues to guard the newly hatched fry until the yolk sac is absorbed and the fry swim off. These young bluegill provide most of the food needed to have a healthy population of bass.

Hybrid sunfish should not be used as a substitute for a forage species such as bluegill, especially in new ponds. Bluegill reproduction provides the necessary forage (small bluegill) for predator species such as bass. Reproduction by hybrid sunfish is very limited and not enough to maintain reasonable growth and condition for larger predators.

Largemouth bass, the trophy fish in ponds, is the major predator of young bluegill. A past state record largemouth bass, caught from an Iowa pond, measured more than 24 inches long and weighed over 10 pounds. Under ideal conditions largemouth bass spawn in their second year of life, but most spawn in their third year. Male largemouth bass also build nests similar to bluegill, but the nests are larger. Spawning occurs in May and early June in shallow water. A female largemouth bass 10 inches long will produce about 2,000 eggs, but an older, bigger largemouth bass can produce 15,000 eggs. Bass eggs usually take 3 to 10 days to hatch. Male bass care for the fry until they are about 10 days old.

Although the largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish combination typically does well on its own, fathead minnows are sometimes stocked to provide initial prey for largemouth bass but they will not be sustainable.

Walleye and northern pike can be stocked into ponds without harm, but they rarely reproduce in ponds and must be stocked periodically to maintain their populations. Walleye seldom grow large in ponds, but northern pike often do.

Black crappie may be suitable in ponds larger than 5 acres, but should not be stocked until largemouth bass and bluegill populations are well established.

White crappie and yellow bass are not well suited for ponds because they usually produce little fishing, seldom grow to acceptable size in ponds due to excessive reproduction and compete directly with fish. Hybrid striped bass should also be avoided due to their direct competition with other species.

Correct stocking is a must for good fishing. Some of Iowa's best fishing for largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish is provided by properly stocked ponds. Private hatcheries in Iowa have provided great success with the following rate in new or renovated ponds:

• 100/acre 3- to 6-inch largemouth bass
• 300/acre 3- to 5-inch bluegill
• 100/acre 4- to 6- inch channel catfish

Hybrid sunfish should not be used as a substitute for a forage species such as bluegill, especially in new ponds. Bluegill reproduction provides the necessary forage (small bluegill) for predator species such as bass. Reproduction by hybrid sunfish is very limited and insufficient to maintain reasonable growth and condition for larger predators.