What Fish Should I Stock My Pond With
Most Common Gamefish
Although fish can be used for many purposes, one of the most popular reasons that property owners keep fish is to enjoy it as a sport. These are some of the most popular gamefish.
Large Mouth Bass
(Micropterus Salmoides)
The large mouth bass is the most beloved freshwater game fish. It can grow to up to 20 pounds. It is the state's official freshwater fish. It is typically olive-green with brown mottling and gets its name because it hunts prey with its mouth wide open. It will eat all prey it finds, even small mammals and birds, as long as they fit into its large mouth. The largemouth bass, which is found in Florida and the southern United States of America, is highly prized gamefish.
View our stock list for large mouth bass from Smith Creek Fish Farm here
Blue Gill
(Lepomis macrochirus)
The blue gill, also known as bream, sunny, copper, or brim, is one of the most popular freshwater fish. It is a member of the sunfish family and can grow to 10 inches in length. The dark navy gill covers make it easy to identify. It is oval-shaped with a dorsal fin and a dorsal fin that runs vertically beneath. The spawning season is when the males are more colorful. This fish is commonly stocked to prey largemouth bass and sometimes with red-ear sunfish in order to increase diversity in a pond. Because of its availability, it is an important sport fish. It prefers shallow water and is able to survive in areas with many aquatic plants. They eat mainly mosquitoes and small fish.
View our stock list for Blue Gill from Smith Creek Fish Farm here
Channel Catfish
(lctalurus punctatus)
The channel catfish is North America's most popular catfish. It can balance a pond’s ecosystem by cleaning out the bottom. It is both a sport and food fish. This species can compete with largemouth and bluegill for prey when it is stocked together. The "whiskers" that wrap around their heads and the long, scaleless bodies of catfish make them easy to recognize. They can weigh up to 25 pounds.
View our stock list for Channel Catfish from Smith Creek Fish Farm here
Pond Cleaning Fish
Triploid Grass Carp
(Ctenyopharyngodon Idella)
The herbivorous, grass carp can be used to stop submerged aquatic plants from growing too much in a pond. Many people are shocked to learn that grass carp belong to the minnow family. They can grow up to 15-20 pounds. They are used primarily for vegetation control, particularly to clear out hydrilla. Qualified waterway systems are eligible for permits.
View our stock list for Grass Carp from Smith Creek Fish Farm here