Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Fish for swimming pond

I have a pond that has been drained and totally cleaned up, so it's basically new. I'm not big on knowing types of fish, but we did have bass, bluegill, and perch (also several grass carp). We aren't big on fishing, so they are more for the health of the pond. The kids used to complain that they would be bitten (assume bluegill), and I got what felt like a hard torpedo to the back once. I want the pond to be enjoyable for swimming. I am in NW if that matters. Any suggestions on what is best to stock with?

You need only a predator. For Ohio, Smallmouth Bass would be my choice. The smaller ones are essentially panfish while the larger ones will help to prevent overpopulation. For the health of the pond and the fish, I would institute a harvest of 40 -50 lbs/acre-year beginning the second year. Since your family isn't big on fishing, time the harvest for fall and keep everything until the harvest objective is reached. This should reduce standing weight by 25% to 35% each fall and ensure those SMB remaining can still grow.

Would second the SMB. I have them in one pond along with RES and did not have nay problem with them biting when swimming.

What you may find enjoyable is actually hand feeding the fish as pets. SMB take redily to commercial fish pellets once they learn they are food. I get about as much enjoyment of my pond feeding the fish as I do fishing.

And once you get one of them on a hook and line you might become more inclined to enjoy fishing. They do not get horribly big so stay panfish size and they fight like their twice their size. Not unusual for them to come completely out of the water, shake their head and shake the hook out of their mouth. Very fun fish.

I have read old threads that say the SMB are pretty good about reducing their own recruitment so over population is not as much of a problem as it is with LMB.