Asked By: Bryan, Flowery Branch, GA
A: Fish are fun to catch and entertaining to watch, they also help maintain a balanced backyard ecosystem. There's nothing quite like fishing for bass, perch or bluegill from your own pond or lake. Whether you're stocking a new pond, replenishing an existing pond or adding to an already-established population, here's what you need to know about when and how to best do it.
Spring Stocking:
Spring is the ideal time to stock your pond with fish. Temperatures are mild and oxygen levels are rising, so the stress factors affecting your fish will be at their lowest. Once acclimated to your pond, they'll be primed to flourish. Fish can be added in the summer, but they'll need a little more time to adjust.
Happy Habitat:
Make a home-sweet-home for your new fish by creating a top-notch habitat for the smaller fish to hide, grow and reproduce. Weeds, grasses, felled trees and other debris already in your pond will provide some cover, but a specially designed environment, like
Fish Attractor Spheres can improve on what's already there.
Abundant Population:
Keeping a strong underwater ecosystem means creating a balanced fish population. We advise sticking to a ratio of three prey fish (like sunfish, bluegill or perch) to one predator fish (like bass) when choosing species. The number of fish you add to your population will ultimately depend on the surface area of your lake or pond. To help you calculate what's best for your situation,
here are some examples of stocking rates.
Fatten them Up:
With your brood settled in, you want make sure they're getting enough grub to thrive. A game fish food, like our
Game Fish Grower Food, is a great way to provide the fish with protein and nutrients, bolster their immune systems, and grow impressive game fish. Plus, it's a floating pellet—so you can enjoy watching them as they come to the surface and eat.
Spring stocking time is here! To find ready-to-stock game fish in your area, visit your local fishery. Happy fishing!