Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Brook trout

Where will these serve in my pond? They will live year round I know. The pond is yet to be stocked 5 acre WE redbreast sunfish SMB YP and CC planed for pond

I have brook trout in a pond and would love to answer your question but don't understand it. Can you clarify?

What is the water temperature profile year round in your pond?

Never above 75 at 1 foot deep in winter it ices over.

Below 75 at 1 foot year round

Will they be predators of small fish as well as prey to WE and SMB.

As in fry and fingerlings

Temp isn't just what you should be concerned about as Scott (Esshup) would tell you. There has to be a minimum of about 5 mg/l of oxygen in the suitable temps which are 55 to 65. For brook trout I would not want to go above 65 even with suitable oxygen.

Lots of ponds that are not stratified have cool enough temps in the depths but typically become low in oxygen in the summer.

If your oxygen is good in the colder water but temps are hovering around 65 or slightly above, and you have your heart set on trout, I would go with brown trout instead.

And yes trout are good predators if they are not pellet fed. I've caught trout with small bluegill and yellow perch in their bellies. They also feed on snails surprisingly. I've found Ramshorn snails in the bellies of both brook and rainbow trout. Don't recall if I've seen them in brown trout but their is strain of brown trout in Ireland called the Gillaroo, that feed predominantly on snails. It even has a thicker stomach wall than other strains to protect it from the sharp edges.

I have a waterfall coming into the pond does this help? Around the waterfall it is always cool but it only keeps it cold near it, it is mountain stream fed fall.

Maybe. You can always try and see what happens. It's not like they are super expensive.

Ok I will see what happens with fingerlings I can poison the pond after the experiment I can buy them now and see throughout the rest of the year?