Information On Forage Fish
Forage fish can be stocked in recreational fishing ponds for sport fish like largemouth bass. Trials obviously show that largemouth bass that were kept alone did not grow well and lack of forage leads to stunted bass. A large supply of small forage fish was required to create high-quality trophy bass.
What makes a good forage fish?
It is a species that grows well in ponds and is low on the food chain.
It is vital that forage fish are small enough to be prey for the desired sport fish.
Another desirable characteristic of forage fish species is to have the ability to turn unexploited natural foods in the pond (algae, insects, larvae, snails, etc) into food for desirable predatory species of fish farther up the food chain.
Forage fish increase the growth of bass and increase their survival throughout the winter by giving them the fat stores they need to stay healthy under the ice and cold temps.
The key considerations when selecting and stocking forage fish
1) Obtain knowledgeable advice on appropriate forage fish species for your pond.
2: Purchase fish from a trusted source, such as Smith Creek Fish Farm.
3) Slowly acclimate fish, giving them time to adjust to the pond water temperature and water differences.
4) There are many forage species that will not reproduce fast enough in farm ponds that have intensive bass predation and will need to be replenished regularly.