native community

[ceeej31]

how big a pond would i need to keep
1 largemouth
1smallmouth
1 bowfin
and maybe a pickrel
i would also keep a bunch a goldfish and the like as forage

 

[Danyal]

i'd aim for around 8~10'x4' and use minnows for forage.

 

[ceeej31]

do you think it would work out?

 

[fishyz]

It should work as long as they can't eat each other.

 

[Roflcopter]

Maybe you should use grass carp(if there legal in your state).If not,then use minnows or threadfin shad for something diffrent thats native.Instead of a bowfin you should go for a channel cat.I only recommend catfish because its hard to find bowfin being sold around this time.Channel cats also come in albino forms to,which can add some good looks.if you want some more foragers,you could add goldfish.IMO id go for something more like 10'x10'x4-3'.

 

[ceeej31]

around here i remember channel cats as easy to find, whereas the only place ive seen a bowfin is a public aquarium

 

[tedcb5600]

I don't know how well a bowfin would survive your temps up there. The others will do fine as long as the pond doesn't freeze completely. It will aslo be very had to get self propgating food sources going. to get them going in my small pond, I had to start with 2lbs. of fat head minnows because any less, and my three bass would eat them all. My bass feature is 12x5x4

 

[FireMedic]

Go as large as u can afford. Smallies and Pickerel can be very aggressive. Smallies can get very territorial if they get into breeding condition.

 

[ceeej31]

there is a lake about an hour north of me with bowfins, it also has gar, go figure.

 

[cmj15]

if you get pickerel make sure yo uget a chain because once the bass get large enough they will eat the pickerel