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Joined: Oct 2014
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OP
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 6,080 Likes: 1 |
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?
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Joined: Oct 2014
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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!
Last edited by Bill D.; 11/25/14 09:33 PM.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Joined: Aug 2014
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Bill, Which species and what kind of quantities are you looking for? Charlie
...when in doubt...set the hook...
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Joined: Oct 2014
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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.
Last edited by Bill D.; 11/26/14 01:21 PM.
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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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.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 11/26/14 02:17 PM.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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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?
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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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.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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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.
Be Brave Enough to Suck at Something New!
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They have offered to sell me whatever I want in the past.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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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.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Must have been one big pond!
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Just lots of goldfish in it that weren't being controlled by the LMB.
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Joined: Oct 2014
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Now you have me curious again. Once the Tigers worked over the goldfish did they start in on the LMB?
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Joined: Jan 2009
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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).
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Joined: Jun 2007
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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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....
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