Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Product sources Fathead minnows

I'm looking to source some fathead minnows for a newish 1/4 pond in Southwest Virginia. Anyone have a recommendation?

SOLitude operates in Virginia, so that's one option.

Also, all the local bait stores most likely get their minnows for bait sales from a whole sale company, and you may be able to contact that company and set up a local pick-up via your local bait store.

Of course, do as much as you can to ensure you're getting fatheads and nothing else.

I've searched the members list and googled SOLitude and nothing comes up.

Jeffery - as Sunil says contact several local (within 50 mi) bait shops for your ability to buy some fatheads when the shop receives an order for maybe a quantity discount if you buy 3 to 6 pounds. Numbers per pound will depend on sizes of the minnows. If small 1.5" = 730/lb and if 2" = 300/lb. Expect to pay $14-$16 /lb. If these are the first fish into the pond then 3 lbs will be plenty as a stocker brood source to reproduce all summer for then adding sportfish in the fall. If you are adding FHM as some supplemental forage fish then boost the stocking up to 5 to 7 lbs. Note 10 lbs of minnows adds about 1 total pound of predator fish weight to all the pond fish - not really the best way to improve the pond's carrying capacity of sportfish. Fathead Minnows to feed 12"+ bass are just a very short term snack - do not expect to see any of the FHM next year.

Thanks. The pond is about three years old. Nothing has been stocked in it. There are plenty of frogs and crawdads though.