Andy Coursey and Jim W and others, can you please get with the DNR folks in IOWA and bring them up to speed on the basics of small pond stocking? I read the info on the web pages of many of the states in the mid west and great lakes area and they have such bad advice on their web pages!!!

Today I was reading the Iowa DNR page devoted to educating the recreational pond owner on how to stock and it is amazing that they feel that the best combination is BG, LMB, and CC. Their justification for this does not help the new pond 'meister' avoid the pitfalls of CC. What about full disclosure?

Why no mention of Yellow perch? That is the easiest, tastiest, and most versatile panfish to stock after BG in my opinion. Why do they scare everyone away from White crappie and yellow bass? And push people away from HSB? Why???? HSB compete with what other species to the other species detriment?

See this:

--------------------
Pond Stocking
Years of experimentation have shown three fish species are best suited for Iowa ponds. Largemouth Bass and Bluegill are the primary species stocked in ponds, and must be stocked in combination to provide a good fishery. Bluegills are an excellent panfish and serve as prey for largemouth bass. Channel Catfish are also recommended for pond stocking due to their popularity with Iowa anglers and opportunity they provide for excellent fishing. All three species are available from many private hatcheries in Iowa.

Stocking and Managing Iowa Ponds

+ Pond Stocking | Bluegills
+ Pond Stocking | Largemouth Bass
+ Pond Stocking | Channel Catfish
+ Pond Stocking | Other Species
Although the largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish combination typically does well on its own, Fathead Minnows are sometimes stocked to provide initial prey for largemouth bass but they will not sustainable.

Walleye and Northern Pike can be stocked into ponds without harm, but they rarely reproduce in ponds and must be stocked periodically to maintain their populations. Walleye seldom grow large in ponds, but northern pike often do.

Black Crappie may be suitable in ponds larger than 5 acres, but should not be stocked until largemouth bass and bluegill populations are well established.

White Crappie and Yellow Bass are not well suited for ponds because they usually produce little fishing, seldom grow to acceptable size in ponds due to excessive reproduction and compete directly with fish. Hybrid Striped Bass should also be avoided due to their direct competition with other species.


Iowa DNR pond stocking page