Restocking Pond

[Mausermeister]

I built my pond about 25 years ago, right after we bought the farm. Stocked it initially with bass, hybrid bluegill, fathead minnows, catfish, and a few triploid grass carp. Over the last few years the fishing has declined, and some of the carp died and those that remain are not able to keep the vegetation in check like they used to.
Now that my daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter just moved back from fAlabama, I figure I should mow around it more often and see about restocking.
I just found out the fish truck is supposed to be in town today, so I'm going to get some channel cats, shell crackers, and a few more grass carp.

 

[Hduke86]

I'd definitely go on the lesser side with the cats as they will outcompete other fish for food. If you want a clean pond I highly suggest going to tractor supply and buying some pond dye. It keeps the sunlight from reaching the bottom and it does great for keeping vegetation down. It also helps smaller fish and minnows survive because the water is darker. I would look into hybrid bluegill for the simple reason they get BIG and a ton of fun to catch but they don't really reproduce because most are sterile and males and overload the pond.

 

[Hduke86]

You can go down the rabbit hole when looking into making a fishing pond good. You can never have enough fathead minnows in it.

 

[Popcorn]

A juvenile grass carp will eat many time the amount of food that an older larger carp does. It's the difference between growing and sustaining. I replace grass carp every 2 to 3 years.

 

[WTM]

whatever you do dont stock any green sunfish.

 

[Mausermeister]

Pond is a little less than 3 acres and spring fed. Dye would be very expensive. Already have hybrid bluegill. I added 200 catfish, 100 shell crackers, 6 more grass carp, and a few hundred fathead minnows.

 

[Mausermeister]

whatever you do dont stock any green sunfish.

You don't have to stock them. They will somehow find their way into a pond built on top of a tall hill.

 

[bowtechgump]

A pond that size I would put some hybrid bass (Wipers) and crappie. But that is just me.

 

[HenryCohunter]

If you don't harvest the crappie on the regular they will totally take over a pond that size and it will be full of 8 inch skinny fish.

 

[CATCHDAWG]

If you don't harvest the crappie on the regular they will totally take over a pond that size and it will be full of 8 inch skinny fish.

Agreed. I wouldn't stock crappie in a pond.