The Hybrid Bream option is well suited for small ponds less than two acres in size. Hybrid bream have a large mouth and readily take artificial feed. They are very aggressive making them easy to catch, even on a bare hook. Populations of hybrid bream are composed of 80 to 95% male fish. Therefore reproduction is limited and more of the stocked fish reach a catchable size. For every 100 hybrid bream stocked you can expect to catch 80 eating size bream. While they are capable of reaching 1 to 2 pounds, most average 1/2 to 3/4 pounds.

     New hybrid bream ponds should be free of other bream species to prevent reproduction. All of the fish should be of similar size and stocked at the same time to prevent predation. Small 1 to 3 inch fingerlings will grow rapidly reaching 4 to 5 inches in their first summer and can gain 1/4 pound per year every year thereafter.

     Although reproduction is limited, some reproduction will occur. The offspring from this reproduction are inferior fish, resembling green sunfish, that will not grow very large and will breed readily, resulting in thousands of small fish rather than eating size fish. Once hybrid bream have reproduced the only way to correct the problem is to drain the pond and start over.

    To eliminate reproduction altogether you must stock either channel catfish or largemouth bass  with the hybrid bream to eat any offspring produced. Channel catfish will eat the inbred fish and can be grown to large sizes with feed. Largemouth bass will also eat the inbred fish but will not grow very large (1/2-1 pound) because there are simply not enough offspring produced to grow big bass.

     To sustain quality fishing new hybrid bream will need to be restocked periodically. Larger (3-4") fish will need to be stocked to prevent them being eaten by the channel catfish or largemouth bass present in the pond. Larger (1 pound+) catfish and bass can be removed to improve the success of the restocking effort. Smaller (10-12") catfish and bass should be left in the pond. (see hybrid bream management).

     Hybrid bream should not be mixed with bluegill (coppernose or native). Bluegill will breed with the hybrid bream producing more inferior offspring. Fathead minnows should be stocked as forage for hybrid bream in the spring and fall. Redear sunfish may also be stocked with hybrid bream to control grubs, however there is a chance that the redear sunfish will breed with the hybrid bream. Grass carp should also be stocked in fall or spring to control aquatic vegetation before it becomes a big problem.

     Hybrid bream will grow faster and larger if fed daily with a feed that has at least 38-40% protein and 8-10% fat. Ponds without aeration should be fed no more than 10-15 pounds of feed per acre per day. Aerated ponds can be fed 20 to 30 pounds per acre per day.