TJ just saw this thread. I find it ironic you recommend arkansas pond stockers after receiving undesirable fish. This is the kind of thing that if I did this I would be out of business. I have never had a single fish go to a pond other than what they ordered. It is the cardinal sin in pond stocking business to have species that was not part of the plan. Glad you took time to go through the order but after hearing this no way would I suggest anyone getting fish from them.
Burger your right I had a client years ago say don't worry just sit them in the pond we will only be a few mins. We ran water quality on pond few hundred yards away. Tons of questions he kept asking and I said lets get to fish. Came back to dead fish. He blamed me and I had the fish alive for a 3 hr trip and did not get paid. He got free pond advice and I lost 6 hour day and cost of fish. Lesson learned the hard way.
As I've indicated on several occasions this was my first experience stocking from a "traveling fish truck", and I thought one BG out of 10 lbs of FH was acceptable. Not to mince words, but I don't recall "recommending" APS, I just thought it helpful to everyone if I related the details of my experience with the "traveling fish truck" and that I thought one BG was not a big deal....especially since I already have them stocked. So I said I was satisfied - considering the fact I was told to harbor low expectations, I was pretty happy without a bullhead, stickleback or carp in the bunch.
I really like hearing you say that even that BG was unacceptable. Too bad you're in GA and not closer to NE. I've been reading a lot of threads about accidental stockings and quite frankly assumed it was an inherent issue with any stocking. I was warned to have low expectations...so figured it was the reality of stocking. I've made no bones about this being my first experience with nearly everything I've done regarding ponds from concept to fulfillment, and I'm glad to have feedback like this to help establish expectations for future stockings.
In terms of allowing bags to acclimate to pond temps for 10 - 15 min in a pond being a sin - guess that's a lesson learned. I was instructed to do so by a couple of hatcheries and have never lost a fish to date following the practice. I would certainly never distribute an ounce of advice I had not followed myself successfully. Guess you and Burger have a divergent view - and I appreciate your experienced guidance.
![[Linked Image from i1261.photobucket.com]](http://i1261.photobucket.com/albums/ii582/teehjaeh57/I_subscribe_zps69249d43.gif)
