Buying Live Fish for ponds

[mybentrod]

I have heard of people buying live fish for their ponds on their farms. What is the going rate per pound on this? I am a naturally impatient person, so for a new pond to grow a 5lb bass, it would take about 3-4 years. I might be wrong about that though because it's all a matter of competition and forage. What would someone sell a LIVE 5lb bass for?

[greenriverman1]

If you are talking about stocking a new pond I think that you will want to start out with fingerings. Larger fish will not have enough to eat unless you also have stocked minnows.

I would personally talk to my extension office. There is recommendations on the size and amount of fish that you stock in a pond depending on the pond size. You do not want to buy a lot of fish and they die.

Here is a link that might be of some help to you.

http://fw.ky.gov/farmpondinfo.asp

[raincheck]

Been a long time ago but i knew someone who sold Bass minows and the price then was 25cents each but you had too buy like 5000 too get that price which i would say is too many for a small pond.Terry Adolph

[RoadToad]

Go to the link GreenRiverMan posted, and work with KDFWR. They'll help you get the right balance of bass and bluegill, so that the bass have enough bluegill to eat.

[bob46]

You can buy fish at jones hatchery in cincinnati, they also sell all species, and sizes, also turtles. My friend stocked stripers his lake is 35 foot deep.

[mybentrod]

Thanks for the responses. I was curious about the first time I fill the pond....I wanna catch good fish right away. Not wait until they grow into good fish. I'll check the links and start from there. This is what this forum is about. Outdoorsman helping outdoorsman. Thanks guys

[riverrat12]

Also, if you have a southern states close check to see when Ken Jacbson, Whiskers Catfish Farm is in. He try's to hit all of them at least once. His # is 270-842-2555. He carries all fish and larger bass for a price. Last time I saw him in Shelbyville he had some real nice bass....Chuck

[kydog]

The department of fish and wildlife used to stock new or rejuvenated pond's for $25 with 400 gills,200 and 100 catfish per acre(amounts might be wrong but I think that's what it was ). And you don't have to allow public fishing.
Dog

[slippedcork]

Catch your own and put them in their. My neighbor built one behind my house in 1997 and had KDFW stock it. I built my house here in 2000 and I put several bass from 12in to 4lb and also dumped around 60 huge shellcracker in there. Since 2002 I can catch 1.5lb crackers and all the 2 to 5lb bass I care to. The trick I found after a few yrs is catch the small bluegill and crackers and discard or eat them and keep alot of the bass between 12in and 16in, some good eatin for sure at that size. A pond has to be thinned to be a good one.

[mybentrod]

I have read a WHOLE bunch on the KFW website about good pond management. I LOVE our states resources for gaining knowledge about taking care of the environment. Who ever knew SOOOOO much went into creating such a balanced aqautic environment. I have written down the number for Ken Jacobson. Thanks Chuck. When I get my pond up and going. I won't forget the people who helped out. It might be a while, but the good lord willing we ALL will still be here. Hows about a FISHIN.COM fish off/Tourney.....invitation only. TOO MUCH computer time....and not enough hand shakin.