Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Seasonal Trout Questions ( Salmon Possible?)

I had several questions about stocking trout for the winter months in a Mid/Southern Indiana pond.

1)Growth Rates - What kind of size would well fed 12 inchers put on by spring die off?

2)Are Brook and Brown trout acceptable in small numbers along with rainbows? Palomino (golden rainbow color variant)?

3)Would it be possible even to sprinkle in a few salmon just for kicks?

4)How do trout behave in a pond environment? Do they hang around cover and ambush like bass? I've done a bit of trout fishing in flowing water, but I'm curious how their behavior (and the techniques to catch them) adapts to a pond.

5)Whats good forage to have established or supplement with for them? Minnows? Grass Shrimp?

Thanks

I don't know any answers to your questions. But I have thought of those questions in my mind before (the salmon idea is intrigueing). I am anxiously awaiting someone with greater knowledge to answer you.

1) we just sold 500 lbs today. We sell them at 1 lb and many clients get them to over 3 lbs b/f June in GA climate and feeding to satitation 3 times per day.

2)I like just Rainbow b.c thye are more agressive thus easier to catch out b/f die off

3) Not sure but illegal in GA check Indiana DNR

4) Mostly in clients case they hang near feedimg areas but have been caught all around pond with spinning and fly lures.

5) Like I said I woudl not encourgae forage for this purpose get more return on high protein and fat trout chow.

Get low number this first year and give it a try. They are a real blast. Good Luck

I haven't found anything that says it "illegall" to stock salmon yet

Wouldn't it be a blast to catch a few coho salmon in the backyard!

Blackjack,
I have to agree with Greg. Rainbows above all other salmonids, are easy to catch, grow fast, readily take pellet type feed and are available just about anywhere in the Country. We have tried brown trout, brook trout and even steelheads (couldn�t locate any inland salmon sp.) and rainbows out-performed them all.

Now the fun part begins!
Locate (if available) various strains or sub-species of rainbows. Some include; caribou, wigwam, hildebrand, shasta, donaldson, kamloop, steelhead crosses and many other cross breeds developed by individual hatcheries. Various sub species offer the Pondmeister an opportunity to view different color variations, growth habits, aerial acrobatics (or lack of) and temperature tolerances.
Cecil and others on this forum have a lot more experience with these cold water marvels than I.

Experimentation is part of the journey!

Ed

Ed how is that feeder holding out? I still think you might be the only owner of a feeder in the state.

Greg,

That "Stren AD75" is the best! We have had no problems thus far. Very few people in NW Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming feeding fish that I am aware of.
I did place the feeder in the barn for the winter however, we have about 16 inches of ice cover on the ponds. Probably be April before we begin feeding again.

(My wife is reminding me at this time that we are long $$$ in our checking account; did you ever cash that check we sent? Please respond to my personal email: [email protected])

Ed