I have an empty 50 yr old pond after a winter kill last year. I have talked to Fisheries Biologist here in Iowa and have an application coming for the free stocking of BG, CC, & LMB. Would it be a better choice to get these regulated suggested portions, or would it be better to get adult fish from another pond and stock them that way?

Thanks, FH

I have respect for state Game and Fish agencies. There are some who ruin the rep of the group, but I would go with their plan, and you should be happy. If you want immediate returns then go with the adult fish once the forage base is well established.

Fishhead,

Are you doing anything to prevent another fish kill? It would be ashame to lose fish all over again.

I have someone near me that lost a lot of fish too. He is already restocking with no plan on changing anything like adding aeration etc. This guy has a thick skull.

Cecil, to answer your question, absolutly! I will not put my self through that again. I will be trenching electric to the pond shore to add an air pump. I have been poking around the fertilization posts trying to pick up on exactly the opertune time, and correct application. Also rather lime is a must or not, I will be spraying the weeds with there heads above water, and have plans to thin the trees surrounding the pond to limit the leaves falling in, I will be adding some rock beds to the shore lines after lining under them with something to prohibit weed groth in those spots. I have also been in contact with three Ia. DNR personel bending their ears and have a name of a person from the ISU extension office who is a specialist in the pond catigory.

Bad thing is there was no set of instructions that came with the pond so with the exception to very few, every question I have leads to another thus far. I'll get there but only after I get the answers I'm comfortable with.

FH

Fishhead,

Glad to hear it. I thought you were taking measures, but I just wanted to send the message home.