Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Finished Pond This Weekend, when to stock?

My wife and I finished our pond up this weekend and in about a days time it is 1/3-1/2 full (we hit a spring). When's a good time to start stocking the pond?

Our primary purpose for the pond will be swimming and relaxing but I would like to have fishing be an added bonus. I'm open to all advice on types of fish to stock and how many fish, of these types, I should be adding, and when. I've read through a lot of articles and it appears much of the advice depends on the pond.

Here is what we're working with. The pond is an acre in size (kidney shaped if that matters) and approximately 15' in the deep end. There's about 6-8 feet of water at the moment in the deepest point. The water is still filling, cloudy and pretty darn cold

How long should we wait before adding some fish? Can I transplant a few fish from our cottage?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Since swimming is a priority, I would stock yellow perch and either smallmouth bass, hybrid striped bass or walleye to help control perch numbers. Largemouth usually "over power" the perch population. Sunfish often tend to be nippers of idle or lounging swimmers.

You can add the FH minnows this fall and perch this spring with the predators next fall. If ample food fish are desired then buy fish food pellet trained perch in the fingerling and/ or 4"-6" sizes. Eating pellets they will quickly grow to 10"-13".