My in-laws bought a property with a crystal clear pond, a little less than half an acre. Some random trout live in it, and made it through the winter. I just stocked it with rainbows and FHM, trying to learn the ropes, and excited to be a pond boss! Our pond is in West-Central Colorado, and is fed by a wild, fast moving cold stream.

A friend has a place in Rio Blanco County with a pond, similarly situated to that of your relatives, he had stocked with trophy rainbow trout. Every one a trophy - beautiful fish. He gave us permission to fish and when I released toe one I caught, it sank to the bottom and stayed there. Awful experience and a sad end for that gorgeous fish. I never learned why that would happen and can only imagine that rainbow trout are very sensitive to stress.

Welcome to Pond Boss from sw Colorado. I'm down south of you; Montezuma County between Dolores and Cortez. Where on the West Slope are you? There are very few of us westerners posting on the forum. There are 203 ponds in our county; I'm the one and only person who contributes here. Bizarre, huh!

Our pond supports cold water, cool water, and warm water fish. Trout do well; yellow perch through largemouth bass and bluegill also swim in it. Our most important drawback is that the pond is only 1/4 acre. That means I can easily keep the LMB numbers in check, but can't grow many fish of any size.

Lots and lots of wisdom here, so please jump right in.

Glad to have another Trout guy on board! On the Western Slope makes it even better!!!!!

WhiteLightning, welcome to the forum.