Yes, my guess is that you'll have good luck depending on how far North/South you are. Obviously the further North you go, the greater the risk of losing some in Winter. We have them all over Nebraska - and there are several thriving populations around my farm in Lincoln -including two of my ponds.

I don't think you mentioned anything about buying fish from a truck, but when you mentioned Arkansas I thought about my experience buying from Arkansas Pond Stockers truck at a farm store in Lincoln. I would caution anyone about buying fish from the truck. If you do, take plenty of time about IDing fish prior to stocking. Unless you're okay with HBG or BG in your fishery - when in doubt, don't stock it. Often times BG or other species are unintentionally mixed in those truck tanks. I am the unhappy owner of BH in my main pond due to a FHM order from Ye Olde Fish Truck despite careful hand sorting, at least two escaped my attention. That's what can happen hand sorting through 10# of FHM.

Hartley's in Kansas sells RES and may ship them. I received fish from them and they were reasonable and 100% RES - no foreign fish mixed. Or you can check your DNR for public waters stocked with RES around you and float tube for them in the Spring and early Summer. They readily take a 1/32 oz jig and crawler nub combo fished just off the bottom.

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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