Want to create a fish pond but don’t know what fish to use or how to stock your pond? Follow these useful tips to grow great tasting pond fish such as trout Michael Gallup Jersey , yellow perch and walleye.
How To Build a Fish Pond
To build a fish pond, first decide what type of fish you would like. Some pond fish are cold water fish and require deep ponds around 10′ deep or so where water temperatures are cooler and more consistent.
There are a variety of ways to build a fish pond and what to line it with. Typically, a fish pond is at least 5 deep or deeper with the sides of the pond slanted about 45 degrees towards the middle with one end of the pond deeper than the other. An aerator is placed about mid way across the bottom of the pond to provide aeration. The deeper part of the pond is left undisturbed for the fish. The sides are excavated in such a way to reduce erosion, make it easier to seine the pond and to prevent predatory birds like blue herons from plucking the fish out of the water.
Fish ponds can be lined with fish-safe pond liners or bentonite clay to seal certain soils and form a barrier to hold the water.
Here’s a list of some favorite pond fish to raise, bringing a tasty delight to your dinner table.
Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout are the most popular trout for fish pond stocking. They grow rapidly and often gain an inch per month in size from spring through fall and less in the winter. They feed well on natural food and fish food pellets. They can withstand temperatures up to 70 – 72?F for brief periods but like colder water around 50 – 65?F instead. They like ponds that are usually around 10′ deep or deeper which provide more consistent Chaz Green Cowboys Jersey , cooler water temperatures. They can be stocked with other trout or with cool and warm water pond fish. They are moderately cannibalistic. Pond-raised rainbow trout often get to be 24 to 30 inches in length and up to 10 pounds in weight. All trout require moving water and gravel bottom to spawn. They are considered cold water pond fish.
Brook Trout
Brook Trout are usually associated with small streams but do quite well in ponds also. They usually grow somewhat slower than rainbow trout or brown trout but will reach 16 to 20 inches in length and often up to 3 to 5 pounds at maturity. They feed readily on fish pellets but are often moderately cannibalistic on small fish. They are usually considered to be great in taste. Brook trout can be stocked with other trout or warm water fish species. Their preferred water temperature range is 50 – 65?F. All trout require moving water and gravel bottom to spawn. They are considered cold water pond fish.
Brown Trout
Brown Trout are often considered to be river trout but do well in ponds also. They grow rapidly on natural food or pellets but are considered the most cannibalistic of all trout. They can also be harder to hook because of their shy nature. Generally they can withstand somewhat warmer temperatures than other trout, even 70 to 75?F ranges providing the oxygen level is adequate. Brown trout often reach 24 to 28 inches in length and weigh 8 to 10 pounds in pond raised conditions. All trout require moving water and gravel bottom to spawn. They are considered cold water fish.
Walleye
Walleye are a most sought after fish for their delicious taste. They are strictly cannibalistic in their feeding habits and do not feed on commercial fish pellets. When stocking with other cool or warm water pond fish, they can keep down the number of small fish which enhances their growth rate. They do well with yellow perch, hybrid bluegills and bass. Walleye seldom spawn in small ponds.
Yellow Perch
Yellow perch are sought after because of their delicious taste. They are school-running fish and are often fished near the bottom of lakes and ponds. They feed on small fish, insect life Byron Jones Cowboys Jersey , and will feed readily on commercial diets, if trained. They can be very prolific and should not be stocked alone or in small ponds. Jumbos can reach 12 to 14 inches in length if food is sufficient. They can be stocked with most other species especially hybrid bluegills, large-mouth bass and catfish. They are considered cold water fish.
Fish Pond Stocking Suggestions:
Factors including size, pond depth, location Maliek Collins Cowboys Jersey , temperatures, weeds present or not present, structure and clarity of the fish pond all determine what kind and how many fish to stock. Below is an example of the maximum stocking rates for ponds that are 1 acre, 12 acre or 13 acre in size. You will need proper aeration. We recommend approximately a 3 to 1 ratio of non-predator to predator fish. Size of fish shown below can be changed, if desired.
1 acre pond Jaylon Smith Cowboys Jersey , over 14 feet deep: 500 3 to 4 inch bluegills, 200 4 to 6 inch trout, 100 4 to 6 inch channel catfish, 100 4 to 5 inch perch, 100 3 to 5 inch bass Xavier Woods Cowboys Jersey , and 3 gallons of minnows.
12 acre pond, 10 to 12 feet deep: 300 3 to 4 inch bluegills, 75 4 to 6 inch trout, 75 4 to 6 inch channel catfish, 75 4 to 5 inch perch Jourdan Lewis Cowboys Jersey , 50 3 to 5 inch bass, 2 gallons of minnows.
13 acre pond, 8 to 10 feet deep: 250 3 to 4 inch bluegills, no trout recommended, 50 4 to 6 inch channel catfish Chidobe Awuzie Cowboys Jersey , 50 4 to 5 inch perch, 25 3 to 5 inch bass, 2 gallons of minnows.
There are several commercial fish food pellets that you may choose to feed your pond fish. Some have high protein levels suitable for feedings during warm water temperatures while others have high carbohydrate levels suitable for feedings during cooler water temperatures.
Check out PondSolutions for all of your fish pond supplies.
VANCOUVER, April 19 (Xinhua) -- American long distance runner Luke Puskedra won the Vancouver Sun Run on Sunday, finishing the 10-kilometer downtown race with a time of 28 minutes 53 seconds.