How many pounds of tilipia per acre would you need to stock in order to expect some help with the "green [censored]" ?

That is a tricky question, because the answer is it depends on lots of factors. But a general rule is 20 to 30 lbs to the acre for alagea control. If the lake is 20 or 50 acres you can how quickly this stuff gets expensive at $8 to $11 a pound. I would not stock less than 10 lbs to the acre. We try and stock 10lbs the acre in many of our lakes to take some pressure off the bluegill.

John H,

You can expect some help from every Tilapia you stock. The more you add, the faster you will see results. In my experience, 10 pounds per acre is fine for most pond situations. If you want faster results, then stock more. If you are feeding artificially, then the results will be slower than otherwise.

It also depends on the degree to which excess nutrients are in the pond. Those nutrients are what lead to the algae and heavier concentrations will be more difficult to control.

I've experimented a great deal with this question, including stocking rates ranging from about 2 pounds per acre up to 20 pounds per acre. If you don't care about forage production, my findings show that after the first year at 10 pounds per acre, you can get very good algae control at 5 pounds per acre, the second year and subsequent. Again, that's just looking at algae control not forage production. Over 10 pounds per acre in the second and subsequent years is unnecessary for algae control based on my results.

Most folks like the forage production benefit as much or more than the algae control from the Tilapia and if you are in that number, then 10 pounds per acre is just a good number to work with.

I love tilapia. I stock about 100 to 200 pounds per acre per year or so in my fishing club lakes. Most of those in August and November as feeders. Being I got no money and they are so expensive, I raise my own in about 10 acres of production ponds. I overwinter breeding stock in a wind powered green house.

Most of my customers shoot for that 10 pounds per acre figure depending on several factors.

This year I'll be stocking around 50 pounds per acre of breeding sized into my new "female bass only" big bass lake in the next week or so. Along with a few hundred pounds of shiners, 40 or 50 K threadfin shad and a coupla hundred thousand bluegills (all but the shiners produced on my fish farm). I need a lot of forage fish, way more then the usual because I'm also putting in about 20 female bass per acre from 2 to 15 pounds each soon after. My goal is to maximize growth and inhibit spawning and recruitment by not having any male bass in the lake, hopefully for the first two growing seasons.

Pretty much an experiment, but my members are supporting (indulging) me in the project. The lake I'm using is small, only about ten acres, but I've cut channels and made long skinny islands across the flat. The islands are to be planted with bald cypress, pickerel rush, giant cane, unbrella palm, and taro for habitat, erosion control and windbreaks.

Will be fun for me.

sounds like a camelot bell junior...

Thanks for the info guys.

I've got nowhere near the resources of the Camelot Bell folks, wish I did. I'll say this....

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." Einstein.

Just like most things, managing your pond has two limits, only one of which is finite. Your imagination, and your budget. I strive to make up for shortages in the one by applying the other.

well, it sounds like you have some cool ideas. hopefully your pond doesnt end up being $1600 a day to fish...well hopefully for me, not for you...haha. Keep up the good work.

Lets see now....$1600/day times 365 days....x 25 fishermen...equals...I'm wealthy!! And that don't include nights...

Nah, my members pay an anuual fee for fishing, hunting, riding thier 4 wheelers about, taking pictures, pretty much whatever they want as long as its legal, open 24-7, boats motors, etc. included.

The club is full and I keep it that way by trying to give my members the best I can within my considerable budgetary constraints. And I have a lot of fun doing so.

Beats the heck outa all my other jobs, ExxonMobil, Woodlands Land Development, Anardarko, etc. where I actually have to work at stuff that ain't much fun....

tilipia fry and fingerlings for sale
nitsch@nitschfamilytilapiafarm.com

where is the Nitsch Family Tilapia Farm?

Near Ballinger. 2.5 hours SW of Fort Worth.

Thanks Steve.

I bought my Tilapia from Overton's this year & it looks like Nitsch would not be any closer.

Overton's Fisheries

I probably wouldn't stock them this late.

Reasons:

Tilapia need to be carefully acclimated, more so than most other fish. A professional can do it but it can be tricky.

Stocking rates also depend on the amount of filamentous algae(FA) infestation. At some point it can be like trying to mow a pasture full of Johnson Grass with a weed eater. It can grow back quicker than it can be "mowed".

At this time, bass metabolism is going full speed and would likely eat everything stocked that is under about 6 to 7 inches. At $10.00 per pound, that can be a losing proposition.

As Meadowlark said, figure out where the nutrients are coming from and take appropriate action.

I like tilapia and consider them a great tool. However, like all tools, they have to be used correctly, thoughtfully, and in a timely manner.

BTW, if the green stuff you're talking about isn't algae, tilapia aren't the correct tool.