Stock FAQs

where do you get fish to stock a pond

by Merle Schroeder Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Where Can I Buy Fish to Stock My Pond?

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Full Answer

How to get free fish to stock your pond?

How to Stock a Pond

  • Creating a Balance. To properly balance your pond, you should stock your pond with three prey fish, like perch or bluegill, for every predator fish, such as bass.
  • Fish Types. When stocking your pond, selecting fish of similar size will help the population grow together. ...
  • When to Stock a Pond. ...
  • Acclimating Fish. ...
  • Habitat. ...
  • Maintenance. ...

Where is the best place to buy fish?

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Where to buy fresh local fish?

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What is the best fish for a backyard pond?

  • Hikari Gold 4.4 Lb Medium
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How do you buy fish to stock a pond?

0:243:21You have to have a fishing license to apply for the fish. We have three different types of fish thatMoreYou have to have a fishing license to apply for the fish. We have three different types of fish that. We will give to you you can have channel catfish. You can have bluegill sunfish.

What is the best fish to stock a pond with?

What Fish Should You Stock In Your Farm Pond?Green sunfish.Trout.Carp (common and grass)Goldfish.Yellow perch.Buffalofish.Tilapia.Crappies (black and white)More items...

How much does it cost to stock a fish pond?

SIZEPRICEAVAILABILITY MAY VARY1 1/2 - 2"$90.00 PER 100Availability Varies2 - 3"$100 PER 100Availability Varies3 - 4"$120.00 PER 100Availability Varies4 - 6"$180.00 PER 100Availability Varies2 more rows

How can I stock my pond for free?

Some states have free stocking programs. Check out your local government website to find out if your pond could qualify for these programs. If your state doesn't have such a program though, you may be able to stock your pond with fish you catch in public waters.

What kind of fish will keep a pond clean?

Fish that clean ponds by eating algae and other debris include the common pleco, the mosquitofish, the Siamese algae eater and the grass carp. Be careful with carp, koi and other bottom feeders. While they eat algae, they can also make your pond look dirty.

How many fish should I stock in a 1 acre pond?

A typical pond stocking strategy for a warm-water pond would be 1,000-1,500 bluegills, 50-100 bass, and 50-200 catfish per acre. Many recreational pond owners, however, prefer to stock bluegills and catfish to increase the size and population of bass.

When should I buy fish for my pond?

You should wait at least 72 hours before putting fish in your new pond. Even if only the water is new. This way the water temperature and chemistry can level out. Drastic changes in either can have a serious impact on the health of your fish.

Can you stock a pond with fish you catch?

To properly balance your pond, you should stock your pond with three prey fish, like perch or bluegill, for every predator fish, such as bass. This pond stocking strategy will ensure that predator fish will have a bountiful selection of prey, while still giving the prey fish a sporting chance to mature and reproduce.

How soon can I stock my pond?

COLLEGE STATION – Spring is a good time for landowners with new ponds to begin stocking fish but a planned approach is recommended, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension fisheries specialist Todd Sink.

How many fish can you have in a 1/4 acre pond?

Fish Stocking RecommendationsSwimming PondSize1/4 AcreSpeciesFathead Minnows (lbs.)1-3''10*Channel Catfish4-6''15*Black Crappie4-6''203 more rows

How often do you need to stock a pond?

The best practice for these species of fish is to restock the amount of fish harvested every season. If you harvest 100 catfish during the season, then next spring stock 100 6-8” catfish to replace them.

How deep should a 1/2 acre pond be?

8-10 feetThe main consideration when planning the depth of your fishing pond is what species of fish you plan on stocking. For warm water species like bass and panfish, an average depth of 8-10 feet is preferred in a ½ acre pond. Larger ponds can go deeper, of course.

How to Get Free Fish for Your Pond

Erin Huffstetler is a writer with experience writing about easy ways to save money at home.

If Your State Doesn't Offer Free Fish

You may be able to stock your pond with fish that you catch in public waters. Just know that your daily catch limits will apply, and that this method of stocking your pond isn't allowed in all states due to concerns about spreading disease or introducing unfavorable species.

Get Free Advice

Not all states offer free pond stocking, but most are happy to advise landowners on proper pond management. Before you buy any fish, call your local game and fish department, and ask them for advice on what to buy. They'll be able to tell you what fish do best in your area, what quantities to buy, and when you should introduce them.

Creating a Balance

To properly balance your pond, you should stock your pond with three prey fish, like perch or bluegill, for every predator fish, such as bass. This pond stocking strategy will ensure that predator fish will have a bountiful selection of prey, while still giving the prey fish a sporting chance to mature and reproduce.

Fish Types

When stocking your pond, selecting fish of similar size will help the population grow together. The number of fish you add to your population will ultimately depend on the surface area of your lake or pond. Below is an example for how to stock ponds of various sizes.

When to Stock a Pond

Spring or fall is the ideal time for pond stocking. Temperatures are mild and oxygen levels are high, so the stress factors that affect fish will be at their lowest. Once acclimated to your pond, they will be primed to flourish. Fish can also be added in the summer, but they will need a little more time to adjust.

Acclimating Fish

After stocking your pond, acclimating fish is simple. Place the transportation bag in a shaded area of the pond and let float for 15-20 minutes. This allows fish to slowly adjust to water temperatures in your pond. Next, open the bag and let the fish swim out on their own.

Habitat

Keep in mind when stocking a pond with fish that adding habitats will increase the ability for the smaller prey fish and minnows to hide and safely reproduce.

Maintenance

To keep the population of both predator and prey fish high, make sure the water is well oxygenated when pond stocking. If you do not already have an aeration system set up in your pond, now is a good time to add one.

When to add sportfish to pond?

Adding bass and other sportfish. Sportfish should be added the next spring and early summer, Sink said. Bass fingerlings should be available to add by May or June, he said. Stocking catfish should be ready to add by July or August. Ponds should be stocked with one largemouth bass for every 10 sunfish stocked, he said.

When to stock ponds in Texas?

April 8, 2020. Springtime is the right time to begin the process of stocking new ponds with fish, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist, College Station, said many landowners believe simply adding fish to a pond will result in a healthy and sustainable fish population.

How many redear sunfish per acre?

If fertilizing, add 1,000 bluegill or 800 bluegill and 200 redear sunfish per acre. Redear can grow substantially larger than bluegill and they don’t compete for food, he said.

How long before fertilization for fish?

And treat any submerged rooted vegetation with an appropriate approved aquatic herbicide before starting fertilization. Fertilization will ideally start 10-14 days before stocking juvenile fish for the first time, Sink said. This develops a strong food chain and increases the odds of establishing a good fish population.

What to do if fish are not growing in pond?

If fish in your pond are not growing as fast or getting as large as you want, the answer is to harvest more fish. Especially focus on predatory fish like bass and catfish. By removing mouths that have to be fed, more food is available for remaining fish and the faster they will grow.”.

What can be added to a pond to create a more productive environment for fish?

This provides the best environment for the fish and the pond’s food chain. Crushed agricultural limestone, hydrated lime, quicklime or slaked lime can be added to low-alkalinity or low pH ponds to create a more productive environment for fish and their food prior to stocking, he said. Hydrated lime, quicklime or slaked lime cannot be added ...

Is it necessary to stock bass?

Stocking more bass will never be necessary, unless there is a fish kill, because bass typically overpopulate in ponds, he said. “When fishing starts to decline in a pond, people think stocking more fish, especially bass, is the answer,” he said. “But you have to think of a pond like a bowl with a limited amount of food it can produce.

What is the best combination for a bass pond?

For sustained fishing quality, the basic largemouth bass-bluegill combination is the best starting point, and several additional species can be added.

How many catfish per acre?

If you want channel catfish in your pond, stock at 50 catfish per acre. Stock five triploid grass carp per acre to avoid weed problems. For lakes larger than 10 acres that have much open water, stock three grass carp per acre.

When do bluegill spawn?

Bluegill and redear sunfish fingerlings stocked in the fall and winter will spawn the next spring. Stock largemouth bass fingerlings in the spring to coincide with the first bream spawn. They feed on the small bream, preventing an overpopulation of bream.

Do you have to restock a pond in Mississippi?

With the exception of catfish and grass carp, it is not necessary to restock the pond. Adding fish to the pond year after year can lead to overcrowding and stunted fish. This has ruined the fishing in many ponds in Mississippi.

Can you restock catfish?

You can restock catfish after you remove more than half of the fish from the original stocking. Remember to stock larger (8- to 10-inch) catfish to avoid feeding catfish to your bass in established ponds.

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