What are your goals for the pond?

For example, do you want fish to eat, but think trout are too oily?

Do you want fish for kids to catch? (Sometimes lots of small fish is acceptable in that scenario.)

Do you fish the nearby streams and lakes? (If so, then you may be able to hand stock your pond. You can put in a few small ones as Theo says above, and then catch them a year or two later after they have grown larger.)

There are some unusual fish in your area, compared to the warmer-water ponds of most of the Pond Boss members. Have you ever caught Mountain Whitefish in your area? They actually spawn in the fall as the water is getting colder, and then the fish hatch in the spring. They might be able to pull off a spawn in your small pond?


I would search for the local fish suppliers in your area. (You may need to look up to 200 miles in your location?) See what they have available. Usually they only stock species that will thrive in the climate conditions of the area. I suspect your choices may be limited.


Algae

Do you have an algal bloom that stains the water green, or do you have nasty filamentous algae?

If you have FA, no fish that survives in your cold water is capable of reducing the algae. You need to try other methods. You should probably read some of the threads in the archives about filamentous algae.

The FA in your pond is dependent upon the nutrients and the sunlight. Generally, the nutrients are the only variable you can modify since you cannot effectively dye a pond with lots of water flow through.

Planting some emergent plants in the shallow margins of your pond so that they "steal" nutrients from the FA is probably your best option.

Do you have a house or cabin overlooking the pond? There are some attractive plantings you can pursue. If your pond is remote, then you can choose your plants based on efficiency.

The ideal plants are ones that thrive in your area, but that do NOT spread rapidly! And definitely no "invasive" species.

We have very few members in your neck of the woods, and I certainly don't know which plant species would be appropriate for your pond. You might read a few threads about beneficial plants - to see how members "think" about adding plants to their ponds. Obviously, plants from East Texas are not going to do well in your pond.

Good luck on your pond development project! If you add a few more goals to your post, you might get some better topical advice from some of our members.