Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Stocking trout in a local pond

Good afternoon everyone,

I am looking into stocking a local pond in Sandown NH with trout.

How many trout do you feel would be required for sustainability?
The pond is 161 acres
Average Depth: 14 feet
Maximum Depth: 35 feet

I have the Lake trophic data that shows they can survive in the summer. I'm more worried about the bass beating up on the trout.

My end game going forward is to have 2 fishing derby's a year in support of the wounded warrior project.

All information will be greatly appreciated.

161 acres is a big "pond"

is it all on one owners property?

Its Angle pond in Sandown, the pond is surrounded by many homes no one person owns the pond.
I was looking at stocking it with 1000 trout. The issue is the hatchery told me I should stock it with 300 per acre!! That's roughly 57k worth of trout. Is he way off base to have sustainability?

Hey IJ Welcome to PBF!

Couple of questions...

What kind of trout are you going to stock and how big? Are there other ponds/lakes near you with reproducing trout? What other fish are in the pond besides LMB now?

IceJunky, $57K sounds like stocking 1000 fish over 1 pound in size...or is way overpriced...

My first concern would be, at 161 acres, is this an HOA controlled lake, or does the state get involved in any aspect of the lake? I ask because there can be some liability issues for you or someone stocking if the proper permits/permissions are not in place.

Trout will need flowing, cold, shallow riffles over gravel to spawn. Absent the proper conditions of a larger stream flowing into the lake (which makes me think the state will have to approve any stocking) with those spawning conditions, I doubt the trout would sustain a presence.

While I am not sure about that 300/acre rate (sounds awfully high), you could stock less, and consider ONLY the acres in the lake you KNOW can sustain trout all year.

I am sure you got the temperature data that suggests year round cool water temps at depth, but have you gotten dissolved oxygen levels at depth in the warmest times as well?

IJ did you mean the 57K was for the 300 trout/acre rate i.e. 48300 trout, or the 1000 trout total?

Good catch Bill D...I had a brain fart...lol

Check your PM's. Wounded Warrior is no longer what it used to be and feeding a very high life style for it's administrators. Not even the same people that started it.