Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Hello everybody:

Thank you Omaha:
Regards,
FRIZ

The reason my dad's friend chose common carp for his one pond was they produce lots and lots of food to eat. He has the survival mode in mind and wants an easy to raise fish that'll feed him and his family without any worries of production or survival. He doesn't supplement them with any feed nor fertilizes the pond. But if you don't like eating carp, there is no point in raising them unless you are truly looking at them as a survival type thing... The pond is around an acre and probably has 300-500 carp in it depending on the time of year. I am not sure why, but the water doesn't get muddy. Perhaps it is a bottom material, I don't know but the water is usually quite clear, 3-4' clarity. However, compared to his trout and LMB/BG pond, it is less clear.

There you go, Friz - stock carp, and you will have more fish than your family can (or, at least, will) eat.

I would like to see a 1 acre pond with 300-500 adult carp and water clarity at 4ft. Although I do not consider 3-4ft of visibility as quite clear. Quite clear water for me is 6-8ft.

It should be noted that many people don't like the taste of carp; they're still regarded by many as a rough fish. I have never eaten one but have heard numerous people express a less-than-gourmand experience with them. And, as has been noted already, they have more bones than a bass or a bluegill, and thus require more skill to clean, and also increase the chance one will encounter bones while eating.

Filleting them, making sure to take out the dark vein of meat along the lateral line, then grinding the fillets will take care of the bones. Fish cakes anyone? I still don't like 'em (to eat, they're a blast to catch).

FRIZ, are SMB of high personal prioty? Don't get me wrong, they're near the top of my personal favorite fish for sport but don't seem well suited for the primary goal of food production.

HSB are very mild, similar in taste and texture to tilapia. They are a common commercial food fish. Meijer's sells them whole around here in the fresh seafood area.

Here's one my daughter caught a couple of years after stocking. Hand fed once per day fairly consistently Spring to fall. If growing fish for food, ease of management, and sport and if channel catfish are out of the question, then I can't think of a better species choice than HSB. It would take quite a few BG or RES to yield equal pounds of meat as one HSB.



Since swimming is a priority, I would guess that clear water would be desired. Fertilizing will likely increase growing capactiy but will turn the water green and reduce visability. Feeding will also increase fertility indirectly but less so if fed at reasonable rates.

Thank you Ryan Freeze:
Regards,
FRIZ

If he's going to feed, a LMB/BG pond would require less management, and definitely a lot less money, long term than HSB because the latter would have to be replaced by yearly stockings, while the bluegill and bass will self-perpetuate once stocked and not require any supplemental stocking. Also, bluegill will be more dependable day in and day out in terms of catchability than HSB, significantly so for the average angler.

Because of the above reasons I will stick to my original plan.



Thank you everybody for your input.
Regards,
FRIZ

Good Luck with your ponds. Please come back occassionally and report here your experiences. Let us know how good our advice was to you. We can also help with varioius pond problems as they arise. And they will arise.

Hi Bill Cody:

Thank you for all your advice. I will be around, and ask a lot of questions. Also, I will definitely stay in touch with my “neighbors” esshub and Cecil Baird 1.

Merry Christmas,
FRIZ

Friz, it sure would be good to hear an update on this thread. It is pushing a few years now. Have any of your plans changed to meet goals yet?