Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Suggestions on stocking a 1 acre shallow pond

Need a little help please. I'm in Indiana and need some suggestions on freshly stocking a one acre pond. It ranges from 10' at one end to 5' in the middle and back to about 10'. It is somewhat L shaped and is aerated during the summer and treated by a pond company. I'm looking to be able to fish it for fun and at some point take fish to eat. Thanks in advance.

What do you mean by "treated"?

The pond management company comes by every 10 days and treats for algae, weeds, etc. They are aware we are getting ready to stock the pond and are conscientious of the fish, according to them.

What kind of fishing do you like to do? What kind of fish do you like to eat?

Seems like a lot of chemicals, every ten days or so...

You could look into managing it with fish ( carp/tilpia etc ) to help control algea/weeds etc to make them more safe to eat, seems with that much sprying the fish you eat would be exposed and absorb a lot of chemicals.

Every 10 days seem too often to me. Probably get several other pond services recommendations. Bobby Rice seems on the money.

I've never seen a pond that needed that many "treatments". Algae and weeds aren't necessarily a bad thing. IMO, it is your checking account that is really being treated.

Might depend on goals also.

i.e., if the primary goal of the pond is to blend into the pristinely cared for surrounding area with a manicured golf course look, looks of the pond might take priority with fish a secondary or after thought goal.

But I'm with you on weeds not being all a bad thing. If fish raising is the primary goal, weeds, moss, etc. are what grows the tiny critters that feeds the fingerling stockers and later gives some cover for the newly spawned fry.

Sometimes ponds end up having conflicting goals, depending on if you are talking to the angler or the spouse of the angler.

I am about 25 miles west of you. Ten feet deep is deep enough for most ponds in our area. The key is the ratio of deep to shallow water and the nutrient load. I have two ponds of that size, and one that is just a little bit deeper at the maximum (the other is deeper). I use no chemicals and no grass carp or tilapia to control weeds or algae. I do however have many emergent plants and ornamental lily pads. It sounds like you may be talking about a communal pond which will complicate any management tactics unless the homeowners form a group which has control over the pond. My older pond is a RES, BG, CC, & LMB pond. My newer pond has FHM, GSH, and YP right now, and I will be adding SMB later. For a communal pond, it might be best to add FHM and GSH now, and add BG, RES, and LMB later. Get your stocking advice from someone who does not sell fish. There are folks on this site that know a lot more than me, so ignore my suggestions if these folks make different recommendations. We are lucky to have professional pond managers here, and this is just a hobby for me.

Thanks for the comments. The pond was severely neglected before I bought the property. Lots of weeds, cattails, algae, a complete mess. No aeration, stagnate in areas, etc.. The pond management company said it would take some serious treatments to get it under control. I have to say that it took the better part of the summer to start looking good. There is aeration in the pond now, thanks RC51, and I will run that at least 12 hours a day once the ice breaks. I like crappy the best. I understand that is not the best in a small pond. From there I would say BG and then some fish for maybe sport, like bass. I have not seen the proposal for this years treatments and maybe this is something I should reconsider. I was going to make them aware that I was going to stock it in the spring. Thoughts?