Thanks Ray, I have spoken the the IDNR a couple of times regarding the pond management. They have been helpful.

Mostly, the DNR has told me to stock only 3 fish per pond. The more fish the more it could get out of control. They recommend bluegill, bass, and channel cat only for small ponds.

All the ponds already were stocked back when they re-claimed the mine field, so we are working from an established fishery in each pond, with its own problems in each one.

Two problems I am particularly dealing with, are lots of small bass in many ponds. One pond that has a lunker bass fishery, it has many small bluegill. I stocked magnum gills from another pond in it, but the bluegill are still relatively small.

Anyway, it is very interesting to work with. We were just thinking of some new ideas that would make this new pond a big trophy bass type of pond. The cover is already going to be condusive for this, so we may not need to do anything but let a few good spawns take care of it.

Thanks,
topwater