Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Looking for HSB

Looking for HSB in Wisconsin. Does anyone know of a fish farmer that will bring them to me? Of course closer to Wisconsin the better.

Thanks in advance for any information.

Thanks Cecil, but no one on that list can help me and no one in WI can help me so I was looking for someone in a state close by that might be able to help me.

I know a guy down here 62246 area. Probably to far though. Or contact Rex (Rainman on the forum)

What size are you looking for? If they're legal in Wi., then you possibly could have someone ship them to you. If you need bigger ones, build a cage, put them in the cage and feed 'em until they are large enough.

I am betting they are illegal and thus why no local hatcheries have them. Check with your DNR.

So the two listed for them in Michigan can't help you?

I did some digging this morning. (did I ever mention that I hate Google)

Tough one to track in WI. They were mentioned twice in gub doc's. One instance is where they were stocked in an impoundment lake that is for cooling a power plant. They stocked them to control the shad population. This lake never freezes.

The other mention is from 2002 where the question being asked if HSB should be considered for importation into WI. The way the doc read, it was more of a question if they should even be considered to be put on a list for submission to the WI DNR.

Best bet is to check with the gub on this one.

Michigan Wholesale Bait, which was the one from MI, resources fish to sell. Probably why they are on the list. They do sell to other states.

HSB are illegal in MI.
According to a USGS doc. in 1997 HSB were stocked into the Kalamazoo River. For what purpose, I don't know. They are however, very illegal up here.

Here is a PB thread from a while back where one member said he got some http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&topic=12097

All I can say is, don't get caught bringing in a species that is not allowed!

Hope it is not the reason why we haven't heard from him in almost 5 years

Several fish farms in Wisconsin have had HSB in the past, thus they must be legal. How many do you want??

From what I've read so far, It looks like if you really really want them you will have to go get some yourself. Many of us do that for some hard to locate fish.

How recent was that Bill?

There were no supporting docs on the gub site, that I could find, that rendered a ruling. Also up were Tilapia and Grass Carp.

These sites are difficult to search sometimes, so possibly things are cool in WI.

Thanks Bluegillerkiller I will look up Rex

Esshup � 6-9 inch I was thinking - didn�t want to cage them

CJBS2003 � they are not illegal, I talked to 1 WI fish farmer who has brought them into WI before but they all died the times he tried to bring them in.

Cecil � Yes the MI numbers were both for the same place and they never heard of them when I called.

JKB � thanks for all the info. Fish famers tell me they are legal and have done it before just no luck. That lake by the power plant is pretty neat � guys at my work keep talking about wanting to go there and fish they just never make it there.

BC � Looking for 25 at most.

I'll keep you posted if I find any.

Cool, at least you know that they are not illegal. Guess the gub never followed up on that 2002 doc. like the dude who wrote is said he would.

Reading up this morning, there were good reviews of the lake by the power plant. Maybe you should check it out.

I wonder why the fish farmers gave up on HSB? They are great for recycle systems. Maybe no market tho. Gotta have a market to sell them.

Zetts in PA will overnight them. They will package them in oxygen and Styrofoam coolers. Not sure how well they do overnighting, but I just picked some up (20 4" to 5") in person and six hours later put them in the pond.

I'm going to Zetts on Wednesday for HSB, YP, and some LMB for my neighborhood retention pond.

Thanks for the info - they will ship as you said, not sure how many will make it is the real question.

They should make it overnight quite easily. Just be sure to be there when they arrive. Do the acclimation process and have fun!

People keep saying it's probably illegal with no real basis for thinking that. Maybe hatcheries dont carry the fish because it likes warmer water and may be difficult to keep year round in small bodies of water?


I decided to search the Wi DNR web page and here's the non-speculative, non-talking out my bung hole information that is easily obtainable on the web.


neither white bass, striper nor hsb are listed on the Wisconsin invasive species list.
ref: http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Invasives/specie...lsReg#RegSelect


I find it interesting that redear sunfish are restricted, but that's off topic


It appears WI keep records for HSB, but they do not specify a bag limit. FYI, The bag limit for white bass is "none".
Ref:
http://dnr.wi.gov/files/PDF/pubs/FH/FH0301.pdf#page=5

page 20
Wisconsin�s Hook and Line Record Fish
(For a complete list contact any DNR office)
Species Weight Date caught Location caught
Bass, Largemouth 11 lbs. 3 oz. 10/12/1940 Lake Ripley, Jefferson Co.
Bass, Smallmouth 9 lbs. 1 oz. 06/21/1950 Indian Lake, Oneida Co.
Bass, Rock 2 lbs. 15 oz. 06/02/1990 Shadow Lake, Waupaca Co.
Bass, Hybrid Striped 13 lbs. 14.2 oz. 03/16/2002 Lake Columbia, Columbia Co.
Bass (White) 4 lbs. 6 oz. 09/24/1977 Okauchee Lake, Waukesha Co


Anyway... didnt find a specific "HSB are legal" but it's not illegal. Average people cant tell the difference in a white bass and HSB. I am not sure i could.


brian