A few times a year Arkansas Pond Stockers visit farm stores like one in Lincoln and bring fish. I have ordered 500 RES and might pick up a few lbs of Fatheads. Based on questions provided by Ewest and Theo I learned the following after speaking with Mike Denton of A.P.S:

RES are 1-3" - spawned last fall - $.50/ea.
No feeding program - leaves them in low numbers to prey on zooplankton
RES are not mixed with other species
100% replacement policy on morts

I may also purchase several lbs of FHM - $9/G is his price.

Mike seemed like a genuine and knowledgable guy and was adamant about the health and that no undesirable species would present in either his FH or RES and welcomed me to hand sort as many as I wanted. Oh yeah, he's also a PB subscriber.

Thought I'd pass this info onto the forum and see if anyone has experience with the outfit and would be willing to share their experiences.

TJ

See your other thread.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=155952#Post155952

There are people here who have used them with good results - but not RES in a cold climate.

TJ, APS supplies several places and has for quite some time. I have considered getting some of their hybrid Crappie which produce inferior offspring for control. FWIW, FH go for $7.00/lb around here, but they are probably covering the 400 mile journey.

Thanks Rainman...I am ending up going with Richard Clearwater out of Wayne NE who is getting them from Hartley's in KS. 750 4-6" RES $.55/ea. plus $125 delivery to pond. Even though they are from South KS I'm hoping they are hearty enough to withstand NE winters...at least the majority of them.

FYI - I think Kloubecs might be out of the RES and SMB business. Bummer - their Iowa fish would probably be well acclimated to NE weather.

I am cancelling my order from "ye olde fishwagon". Nice to know I have the boys watching my back.

Wise choice. I think Shorty got some from them.

Just for clarification about Arkansas Pond Stockers, they are near my pond and have a good reputation although I use a local family fish farm. And the Crappie that produce inferior offspring are the goal of the hybrid so stocking in small impoundments will not be a danger.

$.55 for that size RES is a steal! Finding them in any quantity that size around here is darn near immpossible too!

I got 300 cnbg and 100 res from APS. Also 2# fatheads. They were in fine condition. They were a little higher than some of the Miss. hatcheries, but I had the grandson 'double burger jr.' with me, so just had to let him in on the 1st stocking. I DID call their office and get their delivery schedule. Our town was the 1st day on their stop. The next month, I got 300 straight BG from a nearby hatchery. A good bit cheaper.

Hartleys has been the supplier of some nice smallies to AaronM and howard, both of which have warmer climates and their smallies are thriving (howard, yours are thriving, right?).

I'm going to get some advanced smallies from them. I think it's a good way to go, TJ.

I talked to Howard sometime last year and he said that they were doing good. I may try and stock SMB as my main predator but I haven't made up my mind yet.

Hey Chris - that's my plan also. We should compare notes sometime.

Thanks Sunil...just something to keep in mind for SMB - Shawn Banks has a source with pellet trained SMB. I am getting my RES from Hartleys via Clearwater, but SMB I think I'm going with Shawn. It might be worth contacting him when your time arrives.

You having them shipped to you Sunil?

Yes, I was considering that however I have done nothing as far as planning yet.

Originally, I was going to have them shipped to John Sproch and let him grow them out for a few months and then have him deliver them to me.

I need to get in gear on this.

If anyone has Hartley's number, please post it or PM me. I lost the last number given to me.

I'll check in with Banks also.

Sunil, if this is the place...

Hartley Fish Farms Inc.
Kingman, Kansas
Phone 620-532-3093
http://www.hartleyfishfarmsinc.com/

Sounds like you and John Sproch have a good working relationship... Sounds like he is a good guy, only about a 3 hour drive from my house to his hatchery. Next year when I stock my neighborhood pond, I may make the trip if you have had such good luck with him.

APS as best I can find out has good fish. No knock on them intended in my posts. I would not stock any deep south RES into a Neb pond because of the cold and it makes no difference if they are from APS , ASF , SEP , Greg , Todd or Bob.

Anyone have any positive or cautionary comments about any fish suppliers in oklahoma? I know Dunn's Fish Farm is here, and Harbin is listed in the Resource Guide of this site. Any recommendations? Should i be looking further away for better quality?

Call Bob he provides fish in OK. He has used Inslee on occasion. See the wild bunch pics below.