Stocking the Homestead Pond

[patricimo54]

Last fall we had a 1/2 acre pond dug on our Ozark property. I have been keeping an eye on the rain fall in the area, almost 5" in the month of January alone. I am confident that it is full by now.

We have plans of going up in April to stock it with fish. Thinking about 200 Copper Nose Blue Gill, 50 Sunfish, 25 to 50 Channel Cats, and 5 pounds of minnows. Then in the fall we will introduce 25 to 50 Large mouth Bass.

I am new at this so I am looking input and guidance. What do y'all think?

[Admin]

Sounds great. I would be concerned that the bass will eat up the other species though. Sounds like you'll be turning the property into a little piece of heaven WTG ;D

[Deleted]

I would stock everything at the same time, of similar size. At least that's what I've been told to do, have done and had great success in my ponds. Sounds like you have the right mix though ;D

[treestand13]

I have been thinking of having a pound dug out on my back land. It is very sandy back there. My trapping/hunting partner and I have stated clearing some land and making a small field/ food plot and thought a pond would also be grate. How do I go about it? Do you have to line the hole that is dug with plastic?? and is it costly. Any info would be great. Thanks.

[maritimer]

I really have no experience in stocking ponds but am interested in what you decide and how things turn out for you Pat. Keep us posted buddy.

[rutstrut]

I have two ponds on my place and love them .the only thing i can say don't stock
Catfish they will mud up the pond. They say channel catfish don't mud up the pond but they do.

[patricimo54]

Feb 6, 2013 8:28:05 GMT -5 @charder said:

I would stock everything at the same time, of similar size.

I had a buddy that did and he said that the bass ate everything else up. That is why I was thinking of allowing the cats and blue gills a chance to get some size on them and then introducing the bass about 6 months later.

[clarksvalleytrappe]

The bass will get real big, and the other fish will gradually fade away.

[patricimo54]

Feb 6, 2013 11:56:02 GMT -5 treestand13 said:

I have been thinking of having a pound dug out on my back land. It is very sandy back there.
How do I go about it? Do you have to line the hole that is dug with plastic?? and is it costly. Any info would be great. Thanks.

Sand is very loose and porous. If you have an area on your property that has a high clay content that would be the better place to dig your pond. After been dug it still needs to be packed with some type of track equipment or heavy roller. Make sure you place it in an area that it will get nature drainage.

If all you have is sand then I would think you would have to line it Bentonite Clay or maybe plastic if it isn't real big.

[patricimo54]

Feb 6, 2013 20:38:35 GMT -5 rutstrut said:

I have two ponds on my place and love them .the only thing i can say don't stock
Catfish they will mud up the pond. They say channel catfish don't mud up the pond but they do.

Thanks for the tip, but we will probably continue as plan. As I am getting older I am trying to assure as much food sources for me and my Bride.

[treestand13]

Thank you patricimo54. I will have to think long and hard about this. I don't want to have to invest to much. So I may just stay with the food plot as there is a small pound closer to my house.