Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Adding Fish to a Reworked 0.2ac Pond

Last September we had to have our dam reworked, so we had to drain the 0.2 acre pond completely.

Now we are trying to figure out what kind of fish and how many to stock.

We will likely be swimming in it occasionally, so it sounds like BG would not be a good choice since they nibble on you.

Beyond that, I was thinking SMB, CC, RES.

Any other recommendations on types or amounts or even timing??? I think waiting until fall is best, but I don't know.

Thanks

If using SMB I would leave out the CC because I don' think the SMB will do a good job controlling the reproduction of the CC. If you demand CC then do not stock any CC until the SMB have spawned at least once better twice. Then with a 3 year class of SMB they might, maybe might be able to control the CC. Be prepared for the CC to overpopulate and how to deal with them if they do cause recruitment of CC. IMO a few hybrid striped bass would be much better than the CC for your small pond.

Also, avoid any artificial structures (tubular, cavities) which would encourage CC spawning if you decide to stock them.

Thanks Bill. I'll leave out the CC for now.

I'll look into the hybrid striped bass along with the SMB.

Theo, I don't have any artificial structures in the pond at this time, so that shouldn't be a problem if I do end up adding CC at some time.

I do have a 4" bottom withdrawal siphon spillway. Do you think CC would try to spawn in that (and then get sucked out once the overflow kicked in)? The inlet end of the 4" pipe has a 2" reducer and about 10 2" holes drilled through the top of the last 10' section.

Should I put some FHM in now and then wait until fall for the others?

KY_pond,
The short answer is yes. Let them spawn all summer long on the underside of pallets, rocks, etc...before you add predator fish.