We offer a variety of fish that will benefit your pond best. All stocking recommendations are based on the notion that your pond is generally healthy (fertilized, limed, etc.) and you are feeding your fish the recommended amount. Recommended stocking numbers are for a pond that has little to no pre-existing fish and is fertilized, limed, fed, and properly maintained.  

Coppernose Bluegill

Max Length: 12 inches
Max Weight: 4.5 lbs
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Stocking Rate: 700 per acre (+300 Shellcracker)

Bluegill reach harvestable size within 12 months and can reach 1 lb in a year in the right conditions. They are normally stocked from September-May. They reproduce very well and in great quantities. This makes them excellent feeder fish for your bass. They should be fed twice a day for best results. Excellent to eat, as well as fun to catch, these aggressive biting fish are a must for a well balanced pond. 

Redear Sunfish (Shellcracker)

Max Length: 17 inches
Max Weight: 5.75 lbs
​Lifespan: 5-8 years
​Stocking Rate: 300 per acre (+700 Bluegill)

Shellcrackers have similar characteristics to the Bluegill. They will reach slightly larger sizes. They are stocked alongside the Bluegill because they add variety to the pond, but do not compete much with Bluegill for natural food. Both will eat fish feed, but Shellcracker's main diet is snails, mussels, and other small shelled creatures (hence the name).  ​

Hybrid Bluegill

Max Length: 12 inches
Max Weight: 4.5 lbs
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Stocking Rate: 3000 per acre

Hybrid Bluegill are sometimes stocked in place of Bluegill and Shellcracker. They are a cross between a Coppernose Bluegill and Green Sunfish (above). They are fast growing and bite aggressively, making them quick to bite a hook. Many believe they grow larger than the Bluegill, but this is all speculation. They will reproduce in smaller numbers than Bluegill and offspring will not be true hybrids. They will eventually resort back to Green Sunfish, but will never become purebred Green Sunfish either. Because of this they are restocked every few years.

LargeMouth Bass

Max Length: 29.5 inches
Max Weight: 25 lbs
Lifespan: 16 years
​Stocking Rate: 100 per acre

Largemouth Bass are typically stocked in late Spring or early Summer after Bluegill and Shellcracker have been stocked. Doing it this way allows the bream to get established in the pond and reach sizes where they will not be completely consumed by the Bass. In healthy ponds, they will grow 1-2 lbs in a year. Unless trained to do so, they do not eat fish food, so it is very important that a live food source (Bluegill, Mosquitofish, Shellcracker, etc.) be added to the pond first. Also, if you have Bluegill and Shellcracker in your pond, Bass will need to be stocked for population control. Without population control, your Bream will overpopulate and they will starve. Largemouth Bass are a well desired trophy fish because they are aggressive and fight hard. They are essential for every fishing pond. 

Channel Catfish

Max Length: 50 inches
Max Weight: 40-50 lbs
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Stocking Rate: 300-500 per acre

Channel Catfish are North America's most numerous catfish species. They are among the most liked table fish and grow very fast. If fed regularly they can reach 2 lbs in a years time at which point they can be harvested. Channel Catfish do very well in ponds, however, they are typically restocked every 1-3 years due to bass and other catfish eating most of the young. If bought for commercial use, they can be stocked in numbers ranging from 5000- 7000 per acre. Channel Catfish are great biting fish for fisherman and do very well in aquaculture type scenarios. These are the only Catfish we recommend in a pond or small lake.

Gambusia Minnows
​(mosquitofish)

Max Length: < 3 inches
Lifespan: 1.5 years
Stocking Rate: 1000 per acre

Gambusia Minnows are stocked as a forage fish for the larger species in your pond. They have a gestation period of 16-28 days and can carry babies from multiple fish at a time. They give birth to live young at an average of about 60 young. They get their nickname "Mosquitofish" from their diet consisting partly of mosquito larvae. Many use the Mosquitofish as a means of controlling their mosquito populations as a result. Because they reproduce at such a high rate and give birth to live young, it is very difficult for the other fish in your pond to completely consume them. On the other hand, they are eaten by so many other fish that they never take over a pond.

Black Crappie

Max Length: 19 inches
Max Weight: 5 lbs
Lifespan: 7-8 years
Stocking Rate: 100 per acre

Black Crappie are a great tasting fish as well as a sport fisherman's favorite. Crappie have an aggressive bite and breed very well. It is highly recommended, if not imperative, that ponds with crappie be fished regularly. As a rule of thumb, every Black Crappie caught should be kept. If not, they are subject to taking over a pond. It is important to do research before stocking your pond with crappie. Black Crappie should not be stocked in ponds under 2 acres for risk of overpopulation. Never stock a pond with White Crappie, for they are almost guaranteed to take over. 

redbreast

Max Length: 12 inches
Max Weight: 1.7 lbs
Lifespan: 5-8 years
Stocking Rate: 300-500 per acre

Redbreast are usually stocked as a novelty fish to add variety to a pond. Their main diet consists of snails, insect larvae, small fish, and other invertebrates. They are enjoyable to catch and very pretty, not to mention taste great. They will reproduce in ponds, but not at the rate of Bluegill and Shellcracker. A small population can last for many year.

Tilapia

Max Length: 23 inches
Max Weight: 8 lbs
Lifespan: 10-20 years (in the right climate)
Stocking Rate: 300-500 per acre

Tilapia are a tropical fish from Africa that have many uses. They are one of the most consumed fish in North America. Many use them in their aquaponics systems because they can tolerate poor water quality and grow fast. Their diet consists of algae and weeds and they provide a lot of good nutrients for plant growth. They are a great control method for ponds overrun with undesirable algae and weeds. Due to their tropical nature, they are stocked when water temperatures reach a consistent 60+ degrees and will die off when it drops below that. Some areas (i.e. Charleston and Beaufort) have reported fish surviving through the winter. Tilapia are usually restocked every spring and fished out before winter hits.   

sterile grass carp

Max Length: 4-5 ft
Max Weight: 80+ lbs
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Stocking Rate:
8-10 per acre (for new ponds)
15-25 per acre (for a med.-heavy weed problem)
35+ per acre (for a severe weed problem) 

Sterile Grass Carp are used to control problematic weeds instead of using expensive and harmful chemicals. They are a non-indigenous species from Asia and can easily become invasive. For this reason, only sterile carp are allowed to be sold in SC, GA, NC, and other states. They are individually hand blood-tested to confirm their sterility. Chemicals can be very expensive and require multiple applications. Grass Carp are far less expensive and will continue controlling weeds for 8-10 years. They will start by eating their favorite plants almost exclusively. Stocking at the recommended rate is very important in order to achieve adequate results. Grass Carp will eat most aquatic plants and weeds. You may want to research the types of weeds you are finding in your pond to make sure they are a part of a Grass Carp's diet. They will not eat the fish eggs in your pond. You may find that they are coming to your fish feed. This is common, but they will continue feeding on weeds.     

Koi

Max Length: 30"
Max Weight: 12+ lbs
Lifespan: 35+ years
Stocking Rate: Varies

Koi are relatives of carp and are generally purchased for their vibrant colors. They come in many different combinations of colors. They serve no other purpose than acting as a decorative pet to those who enjoy feeding and watching them. They can add a pleasing aesthetic to gardens and back yards that have room to add a small pond. Note that Koi can live a long time and require more attention and commitment than you may think. It is recommended that you do some research before building a Koi pond.   

fishing your pond

For Bass and Bream ponds, begin fishing your pond one year after the initial stocking of Bream. Most of the fish harvested from the pond should be Bluegill, Shellcracker, and other Sunfish and Bream. Bream reproduce throughout the summer, and are the most numerous fish in the pond (besides Mosquitofish, etc.).

As a rule of thumb, keep a minimum of 10 pounds of Bream for every 1 pound of Bass caught. It is extremely important to make an effort to keep this ratio. If fished incorrectly, the balance in the pond can be thrown out of whack.

Most ponds are under fished for Bream and can withstand a greater Bream harvest. Using these harvest ratios should ensure an adequate number of Bass remain for reproduction, and Bream population control. Removing too many Bass is perhaps the most common problem in farm pond management. When this occurs, Bass can no longer control the Bream level, and the Bream become overcrowded and stunted, while Bass reproduction is reduced or stopped completely.

To insure this does not happen in your pond, keep a record of fish harvested, and ask others who fish the pond to tell you the number and size of the Bass and Bream they remove from the pond. 

If the pond was also stocked with Channel Catfish, restock every 1-3 years with additional fish. Channel Catfish may reproduce, but the offspring usually do not survive because of Bass and adult Channel Catfish feeding on them.