Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose What next for new pond ?

If you have spring water seeping into the bottom of the pond then trout should be a viable option for you. You should search the old posts here for information on trout.

You first need to decide if you want to feed them pelleted fish food or not. Fish food will produce more a bigger trout in a small pond. Feeding will easily create upto 5-10 times more trout and larger trout faster.

Cecil is one of our resident trout experts. Research his posts. Trout are relatively inexpensive compared to other sportfish. If you want fast fishing then stock larger trout (8" all the way upto 16").

If you do not plan to feed pelleted food then you first should allow or create some sort of food base before stocking trout; usually this is primarily minnows. The local fish hatchery will present their version of how to do it. Call them, they will provide availability and prices. You should verify their management and stocking advice here before believing them blindly.

My opinon is to avoid structure on the pond bottom in a trout pond. Trout do not need it. It will interfear if you ever want to drain and or seine the pond to periodically remove existing fish and restock. Restocking young trout with old trout present often results if the old trout eating a lot of the smaller newly stocked trout.