What kind of fish should I stock in my pond?

For Ohio pond owners, there are four fish that are considered excellent for stocking; the largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and the channel catfish.  It is important to stock both predator species (largemouth bass) and forage species (bluegill) for a successful fishing area.

Fingerlings are the least expensive and most common fish stocked in ponds.  They are usually one to three inches long.  Use the following chart to determine the number of fingerings you need for you pond:

If you only want largemouth bass in you pond for fishing, you will need to add golden shiners, bluntnose minnows, or fathead minnows to provide a food source for the surface acre.

What species of fish should I avoid?
Pond owners should avoid stocking trout. The water is too warm in the summer for this fish species in Ohio.  Also, crappie should be avoided in ponds less than two acres. Perch and walleye, lake species, rarely do well in ponds and compete with bass for forage. In addition, green sunfish, carp, rock bass and bullheads are all undesirable.  Their mistaken or accidental introduction into a pond from creeks or other impoundments can hinder good fishing.

How many triploid white amur should I stock in my pond to help control weeds?
Triploid white amur, commonly referred to as “grass carp” may be added to ponds to aid in vegetation control.  The type and quantity of vegetation should be considered when determining the number of triploid white amur you need. Use the following chart if the vegetation is primarily milfoil, marsh grass, pondweed or naiad:

If your pond is infested with coontail or elodea, the stocking rates should be doubled.  If you primarily have a filamentous algae problem, some control can be expected, but this is the least desirable food source.