I have about a 1.5-2 acre tank on our ranch...after the drought finally killed the fish from the initial stocking, we re-stocked with Florida LMB, bluegill, fatheads and 100 fingerling black crappie. The green sunfish had taken over the tank by the time we put bass back in it, so only a few bass survived predation and they are huge now. We put in 60 hybrids to knock down the green sunfish. The crappie we put in grew great and a couple years ago, I had one morning in February when we caught 10"ers, 12"ers, and a couple 14"ers. It seems now that all I catch is a GIANT here and there. Wondering why I am not see or catching any littler ones to show breeding? I would post think in private tank section but seems like nobody looks at it.

Sounds to me like your bass are eating pretty good. Fry and fingerlings don't have many places to hide in a stock tank unless it has a lot of cover. Also, crappie spawns run in a cycle....you will have a few good spawns followed by a poor spawn which might be another reason you're not seeing any small fish. Check with your local parks and wildlife biologist.

I would be surprised if there we more than 15 big lmb in there...but along with the hybrids, maybe it is just simple predation. I want to do a shock and see first hand. That will have to wait till the funds roll in, but at least it seems that the dang green sunfish are finally getting under control. Last year, you couldn't throw a minner in there without 10 perch being on it in no time. This year, the grass carp did their job and got the grass under control. I do have some good dry cedar to sink that I cut a few months ago...will do that this winter so its ready to jig n bobber next spring!

go throw a cast net around for a while over several days, make sure and let it sink to the bottom, so add rope if u need to. do you have alot of heron hanging around the tank, they are good fishers.

My buddy with a goodern from last month. We stocked black crappie...and most of the ones I have caught are racing stripes! Catch them in the Pedernales which is close by the tank here, Buchanan, LBJ...I think they are spunkier than the white crappie.

Lmao...12 years on the forum and this is my first posted pic!

Plus #1. Also there a member on the forum who goes by Meadow Lark. His knowledge on private ponds and lakes is amazing! You may want to PM him!

hybrids and ditch pickles don't know the difference between small crappie and
sunfish.
If you want to have more crappie , get rid of the large predators.
You could end up with the opposite problem , tons of undersized crappie,

good luck

Mo

I don't understand why people put hybrids in a pond.

They eat anything and everything.

We had to to get the sunfish down...we talked to a couple biologists before restocking. Crappie can over populate and hybrids don�t reproduce, so an appropriate ratio will provide a great fishery. We want a �crappie tank�...not a largemouth tank...thats why there are so few bass now and we wont add any.