stocking pond

[keegs]

Has anyone ever had success with stocking a pond? I have a small pond on our Maine farm and was thinking about trying to stock it. The pond is fed by a small brook and some springs. It's about fifteen feet deep. It is home to water fowl, frogs, schools of very small fish and occasionally passing river otter and moose. I haven't seen any turtles.

The previous owner attempted to stock the pond with trout but failed. I suspect hungry (or maybe not so hungry) river otter had something to do with it.

So I'm not sure how successful I'll be at this but I think it's worth a try anyway. I had in mind to start out by introducing catfish fry but I don't know where to get them. I recall years ago seeing large clusters of catfish fry along the shoreline of a nearby lake during summer but I don't think an attempt to rendezvous with a brooding channel or brown catfish is in the cards for me.

So is this just another hair brained idea or do you think I can pull it off? If you think it's possible, are fry the way to go and do you know where/how I can get live, healthy catfish fry (stock) into this pond?

TIA

 

[czechsonofagun]

I stocked my pond and I keep adding few catfish and bass every year. Call Fish Wagon and ask them if they travel where you are.
They go through Virginia several times every year, typically stop at Farmer's Coop for an hour, sell fish and move on. Prices are reasonable as far as I can tell.

I feed my cats every evening from spring to fall and aerate and make sure the pond does not completely freeze over. Every year I pull out several ponds of blue gills, which I never stock but they multiply by a day or so. Catfish come for food and they are growing nicely, I just didn't catch one lately, they are definitely edible now. Of course wife teases me they are my pets and I will never eat them.

 

[dooleysm]

I stocked my half acre pond after it was built and filled up several years back. I put in fathead minnows and bluegill the first fall. The following spring after I saw evidence of those populations reproducing I added bass (2"-4") and catfish (6"-8"). By that second fall I was catching 10"-12" bass and similar sized catfish. The bass gorged on the minnows, every bass I caught that first fall looked like it had just swallowed a golf ball. I don't think there's a minnow left in the pond.

It's been 3 or 4 years now and I routinely catch 14"-18" bass, plenty big for me to fillet and eat. I take out many each year and they have no trouble reproducing. I don't catch as many catfish, but I do keep them to eat. I haven't seen signs of them reproducing (they are channel cats and I don't think they like to reproduce in a pond), and am planning to add some more one of these days.

We don't have trout in my area, they need much colder water than we have, but I have read that they are a trickier fish to maintain. Bass, bluegill, and catfish should be a breeze to get going no matter where you are. Maybe smallmouth would be more appropriate in Maine, we only have largemouth in ponds around here. I have caught smallmouth in rivers and streams around here though.

 

[20 20]

Trout are not the easiest to stock they can have many ills. You should be able to have some luck though because of your location, depth of pond, and a fresh water source. One thing to remember is if there is a brook running through then they will leave.

I have stocked ours with trout, bullhead, catfish, bass, perch and sunfish. The only ones that have not thrived were the catfish, not sure why. Once the fish take you will want to thin them out, every now and then, or you'll end up with a pond full of stunted growth fish. I also have otters beaver crane mink fishers etc etc etc, they do have the occasional dinner but have never put that big a dent in the population. I figure there are huindreds of ponds lakes rivers around here if they can handle a fish population then why would my little puddle be any different??

 

[forgeblast]

Just remember to add a couple of pounds of fat heads first...get the food chain in good order before you add the top preditors. Our neighbor had bluegill, perch, lg mouth bass, and catfish in a small 3/4 ac pond. They are doing great.

 

[MossRoad]

Catfish babies stay in a ball. One bass can eat the whole ball in a single gulp. If you want catfish to reproduce in your pond, you need to provide shelter and hiding places for the babies. Barrels, boxes, hollow logs, large clay pipes, all with only one opening work well, according to our local extension agents.

Do a little searching on Google and you will find many helpful hints. :thumbsup:

 

[Ruark]

The person that sells the stocking fish can usually be very helpful in selecting the type and number of fish to stock with. They can help with ratios, etc. As another poster mentioned, some bottom structure is almost a necessity, especially for reproduction. Concrete pipe is very good. Try a variation of sizes, from 6" up to a foot or so, a couple of feet long. Anything with passages or holes where fish can hide and feel safe, lay eggs, etc.

 

[rekees4300]

So is this just another hair brained idea or do you think I can pull it off? If you think it's possible, are fry the way to go and do you know where/how I can get live, healthy catfish fry (stock) into this pond?

TIA

I personally would not put Catfish in my pond because they are bottom feeders and will keep your water muddy. Suggest you contact your state's dept. of natural resources (or whatever they call it in your state) and ask them for advice. They may even provide the fish for free or for a nominal charge.

 

[Agrantina]

Your local states wildlife folks can help also. Here in TN they offer alot of help to people stocking ponds. A freind got on a waiting list had actually had about 20 students come out and net dragged his entire pond. They counted each fish and took alot of data Then sent him a plan to help grow big fish and keep the water healthy..

AndyG

 

[keegs]

Wow!!...thanks all for the feedback. I checked the Fish Wagon site and I don't think they operate in Maine. There's a similar business an hour or so away however.

I found this site Welcome to Mountain Springs Trout Farm
in Frenchville, ME which is within a reasonable drive distance for me. Apparently they only have brook trout which I gather are suitable for the area, in the 4" - 12" size range. And there's state restrictions on what species that you can introduce. (please no political comments :laughing

While it runs year round, the brook that feeds the pond is very small. I don't think it would be a problem that fish would escape but I could be wrong.

There's a 24" diameter steel culvert pipe that takes the brook underneath my driveway. I'd been planning to replace this pipe as a hole has been opening up through the pipe and the driveway surface. I now know where the old pipe is going.