We have the following types of fish for sale:

Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus)
The Black Crappie prefers quieter waters and more weedy areas than the White Crappie and their excellent eating quality make them a highly sought after game species. Crappies readily spawn in lakes or ponds in the spring or early summer in 3-6 feet of water forming saucer shaped nests in aquatic vegetation. The Crappie will feed on minnows, insects, crayfish, and snails and usually travel in schools.  They are most easily caught in the spring and can reach 8 inches by the second year.  Their lifespan is 7-9 years in the northern states and they have been known to reach 4 pounds.  (stocking rates of up to 300/acre)

 

Bluegill Sunfish are native to most of North America and are popular feed and sport fish. They can be found in many small ponds and are easily identified by the black spot visible on their gill plate in conjunction with the dark vertical bars on their sides. Bluegills will swim in schools of 20-30 individuals and prefer calm water with abundant cover such as weed beds, docks, logs and lily pads. Feed usually consists of insects, small crustaceans and some plant material. Full grown fish will average 6-8 inches with exceptionally large individuals reaching 10 inches or more. Males will construct a saucer shaped nest approximately 2-3 inches deep and 1-2 feet in diameter. Spawning occurs in the spring and summer when water temperatures reach 70-80 degrees F.  (stocking rates of up to 300/acre)    

Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
Channel Catfish are the most sought after member of the catfish family, providing excitement by striking at both bait and artificial lures. It is distinguished from other members of the catfish family by its forked tail and the black spots visible along its sides. Channel Catfish will not muddy a pond like its cousin the Bullhead, making it preferable for stocking in those environments. They average from 2-5 pounds, and have been commonly caught over 20 pounds. Feed consists of fish, insects, crustaceans or commercial fish food. Spawning will occur when the water temperature reaches 70 degrees F, usually under a log or stone, but pipe segments or cans over 8 inches in diameter can provide an artificial medium for spawning as well.  (stocking rates of up to 200/acre)

 
Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas)
The Fathead Minnow provides excellent forage for most game species, averaging just 1-3 inches in length at adulthood. It is recommended that they be stocked on a regular basis to insure proper feed ratios for game fish. To observe minnow populations, check around your pond in the early spring. The Minnows will school in warmer water at the edges of a pond looking for feed which primarily consists of algae and plankton. Spawning occurs when the water temperature reaches 65 degrees F and continues throughout the summer as many as 5 or 6 times. Flat stones or boards facilitate spawning and should be added around the edge of the pond in 1-3 feet of water. The male, usually darker in color during spawning, will pick up and deposit the eggs onto the underside of flat surfaces. Hatching occurs in 5-6 days. These minnows make excellent bait and will help to control mosquito populations as well.  (stocking rates of up to 40lbs/acre for new ponds and up to 80lbs/acre for stocked or established ponds)

 

Koi (Cyprinus carpio)
Koi, also referred to as Japanese Carp, originated in Japan over 200 years ago. Carp, which were stocked in rice paddies and raised for food, appeared to have color mutations. These colored Carp were crossbred with other carp to produce the multitude of colors that we see today including black, red, orange, yellow, blue and white. These beautiful fish normally grow up to 30 inches in our region. Koi can tolerate temperatures ranging from 33 to 90 degrees for short periods of time but care should be used during stocking to minimize temperature transitions.  Koi do very well on artificial feed and will naturally feed on plants and algae. Spawning in ponds is uncommon and will usually result in dull colors. (stocking rates based on personal preference)

  
Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

The bass will reproduce beginning its third year. In our northern waters, it can achieve sizes of 7-9 pounds but will usually average 2-4 pounds. Stocking a forage fish, like fathead minnows optimizes growth. Spawning begins about mid-May when pond temperatures reach 62-65 degrees F. The male prepares the nest, usually a 1-2 foot circular area in about 2 feet of water. One or more females will deposit several thousand eggs and hatching occurs in 8-10 days. The male will protect the fry for about 2 weeks, and then will feed on them. About 1 in 1,000 will reach adult size in natural conditions. When 2 inches in length, the fry will disperse, therefore stocking at or above this size greatly increases survival. Bass feed on fish, insects, worms, frogs, and crayfish and will strike artificial baits. If trained early on they may also eat commercial fish feed. (stocking rates of up to 100/acre)

Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
The Rainbow Trout is the best trout species to stock in a pond environment due to its tolerance of high water temperatures and a broad range of pH levels. The Rainbow Trout will survive in temperatures over 70 degrees F and in a pH range of 5.8 to 9.5. Rainbow Trout have proved to be more easily caught in ponds than the Brook or Brown Trout. Their life span is 5-6 years and weights of 3-5 pounds are common. Trout may reach 10 to 12 inches the second year. Spawning occurs in the spring, but is rare in a pond environment. To provide continuous sport fishing, yearly stocking is recommended. Rainbow Trout will feed on insects, minnows and crayfish and can be fished at all times of the year. We sell the Kamloop strain which originated in British Columbia and is known for its quicker growth rates and warmer water tollerance relative to native Rainbow Trout. The male trout is brightly colored, with a red gill plate and stripe along its side. The female has a silver coloring and is usually larger than the male. (stocking rates of up to 300/acre)

Walleye (Stizostedion vitreum)

The walleye is the largest member of the perch family, attaining weights over 20 pounds. Its size, sporting qualities, and flavor, make it one of the most sought after game species in North America. The Walleye prefers cooler temperatures, gravel bottoms, and areas deeper than 10 feet. Usually they are found in larger bodies of water but have been proven to grow in ponds with adequate forage fish. Examples of these include Fathead Minnows, Perch and other panfish. Spawning occurs in the spring on gravel, when the water temperature reaches 40 - 50 degrees F, in 1-5 feet of water. Moving water is required, with some success on active springs, but spawning in a pond environment is a rare occurrence. The Walleye will reach 12 to 15 inches in the third year, and will live 12 to 15 years in the northern United States. This species can be added to a pond to help control panfish over-population problems.  (stocking rates of up to 50/acre)

 

The Perch is regionally known as Striped Perch or Jack Perch. Their excellent eating quality make them a highly sought after species. Perch readily spawn in lakes or ponds when the water temperature reaches 45 to 50 degrees F in several feet of water by depositing a gelatinous mass over weeds or brush. The Perch will feed on minnows, insects, crayfish and snails. Traveling in schools, Perch tend to stay in deeper water in daylight moving toward the shallows at night. The Perch will reach 8 inches by the second year and will live 5-7 years in northern states. Perch have been known to reach 3 pounds but are more commonly half a pound or less. Fishing for Perch can be done at all times of the year and ice fishing for them is popular.  (stocking rates of up to 300/acre)