Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations different species in trout pond

Currently I have a pond with brook trout and rainbow trout in northern Michigan. The fish do well in it year round but I am thinking of added a different species for fishing. What would be a addition or additions to my pond?

In ponds where trout do well, that generally means the water temperatures don't exceed 70 degrees even in the heat of summer. Especially if the pond is supporting the less tolerant brook trout. Most other pond species may be able to survive but will do poorly in a pond where temps remain this cool.

You can consider the other more commonly available trout species/hybrids. They would include the brown trout and the tiger trout which is a hybrid between the brown and brook trout. Depending on the size and depth of your pond, you could also look at stocking splake, which are a hybrid between brook and lake trout. They also have golden rainbow trout which is just a color morph of the common rainbow trout.

As far as non trout options, I would probably leave them out. If you absolutely wanted to stock something other than trout, YP could be a viable alternative, especially if pellet trained. WE may also be a possibility.

Do you currently have any forage fish in the pond? FHM, GSH or another species?

Thanks for the info I was thinking possibly yellow perch but not sure if they would end up getting stunted. Also not sure of where to get YP. As for other trout species I have had some splake. I do have forage fish in the pond, and the trout exhibit normal growth per the MSU book on managing ponds in Michigan.

I'd watch out for stocking WE, as out here in the West, we have trouble with our trout fisheries when some bucket toting WE lover sweetens a lake. Walleye eat lots of smaller trout. YP could be both catchable/eatable fish for you and also food for the trout. Some of the few RBT in my pond are keying in on the abundance of protein provided by my YP. Do YP stunt in other bodies of water near you?
My pond is fed by cool irrigation water and is like two separate temp zones. The upper 1 1/2 feet of water warm enough for both LMB and SMB to thrive. The bottom depths stay cool from the incoming Dolores River water, a trout stream, and provide the temps that RBT and YP seem to like. There is plenty of oxygen down there, as the incoming cool irrigation water is well oxygenated.
Let us know what you decide, and how it all works out.

You in the Cortez area, 4corners?
I think the drive up the Dolores Valley has to be one of the prettiest there is. I've been fishing the Dolores and the San Miguel since the early seventies, way before McPhee was there.

Yes, we are halfway between Cortez and Dolores, with Dolores address. The day I posted above I then drove up the Dolores past Rico to fish a brook trout stream. My fishing partner on that trip said just about the same thing that you wrote about the valley.

I have been considering adding YP to my RBT pond also.
My setting is really similar to 4CornersPuddle, I am north of you in Delta County, but similar water source.
I stock 6-10 inch RBT each spring, so I think they are large enough that predation wouldnt be an issue.

Would the YP be able to spawn in the pond, mostly creating RBT food but also a few making it to maturity?

Same feed pellets for RBT and YP?

Any reason why the YP would not be a good addition for diversity and table eating?

Curious to hear what you all think about this idea.