As a mini-pond owner it can be frustrating trying to buy fish. Hatcheries have minimum purchase requirements that are often more than I can use. I understand the financial reasons for the minimums. I would happily pay a premium per fish if I could just get the amount I need! Is there any hatchery anyone knows of that offers "novelty" catch quantities?

Many hatcheries that I deal with will sell fewer fish if you go get them. If they won't do that then that place is very buyer unfriendly - poor fish farm philosophy.

Thanks Bill. The hatchery I used this fall said I could MAYBE have a smaller quantity as long as I paid the price of the minimum quantity!

Bill,
Which species and what kind of quantities are you looking for?
Charlie

Charlie,

I am ok for right now. Have been bucket stocking the small qty stuff. I do not intend to do any supplemental stocking again until fall 2015. I want to see where my BG, PS and YP populations are. Hopefully, I can stock 6 or so more WE and maybe another 1 or 2 LMB then. The problem with bucket stocking WE and LMB is the size I want are smaller and are not legal to take from public waters.

Bill,

There is a hatchery in Gobles, Michigan that sells small quantities of walleye. It's in Southwest, Michigan. May not be too far. Laggis Fish Farm.

I drove all the way to New York for smallmouth bass once. The fish were transported in oxygen bags in five gallon buckets. I simply deflated the bags every two hours and pumped them back up with small oxygen pony tank. It's also a good idea to add some ammonia neutralizer.

Cody note: I've been to that Gobles MI fish farm 3.5 hrs away a few times. I agree with you Cecil. As far as getting pretty good quality fish, I have a local fish farm 40 mi away that will sell just one fish including some nice 6"-10" walleye in the fall - even at regular price. If you can't drive to get a few special fish then you don't want them very badly. It is a good chance for a road or 2 day trip with your sweet heart and/or angling buddy! One time I even had my uncle drive to get me some fish. He was glad to do it with his friend since they were both retired.

Thanks guys. You have restored my faith in my fellow man. There are hatchery guys that understand and care about the mini-pond owner. I will definitely seek out one next fall when I decide what I need to tweak things a bit. Driving to get them is not a problem. I will happily do so. Anybody ever try bringing a few fish long distance in a 50 gallon trash can with a bait bubbler going in it?

I routinely pick up small quantities of fish from the hatchery. Just went after 25 HSB last weekend. Of course while I was there, I decided 50 sounded better.

What would they say if you asked for 5? I am betting they would say no problem. Sounds like I just am not talking to the right people at the hatchery I went to, or they are just the wrong hatchery for me. I will broach the subject with them again next summer. If I still get a "no can do" response, I will just drive further and find a hatchery that will support my project.

They have offered to sell me whatever I want in the past.

I purchased 5 fish and only 5 fish from Keystone a few years ago. Now, they were Tiger Muskies, but still only 5 fish. They went into a clients pond in Illinois.

Must have been one big pond!

Just lots of goldfish in it that weren't being controlled by the LMB.

Now you have me curious again. Once the Tigers worked over the goldfish did they start in on the LMB?

The pond is bordered by 5 houses, and has an area that is right next to a road that has a trail worn thru the grass where people are walking to fish the pond. We think the majority of predator fish (LMB and the Tigers) are/were caught and kept. One Tiger was caught, measured and released, and it was 36" long the 2nd year after stocking (a 3 year old fish).

Bill, I have even had Hatcheries give away very small quantities of fish when a customer takes the time to drive to them and will wait until they have seined up whatever species you are looking for....