Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Smallmouth bass

Local bait shop is a good source, that's where I got my brood fish - took the few dozen largest they had. They are easy to identify - you could always buy one, post photo on forum, and we could help verify species prior to stocking.

Dang - I threw it in the largemouth pond.

A common disease in earthen bottom ponds and lakes, this disease is caused by a parasite (larval trematode) that burrows into the skin of a fish causing the formation of a cyst approximately one millimeter in diameter. This parasite has a complex life cycle that requires fish eating birds or mammals, snails, and fish at different stages in order to survive.

In general, even heavy infestations of these parasites do relatively little damage to the fish. There is some evidence that heavily infested juvenile fish may experience excessive blood loss, physiological stress, and even death. Also, fish with heavy infestations on the eyes may be blinded.

Control of this parasite is really not necessary as these parasites are incapable of infesting humans and the fish are safe to eat. It may be more aesthetically pleasing to skin a heavily infested fish prior to eating. In any case, cooking kills the parasites.