PICK UP FISH AT MACON COUNTY SWCD Parking
Lot 4004 College Park Road - North side of Richland Community
College Campus Free Publications Available at Our Office:
Management of Small Lakes and Ponds in Illinois Aquatic Plants,
their Identification and Management What Fish is This?
Fish Available for Pond
Stocking
LARGEMOUTH BASS
The Largemouth Bass is one of the most popular sport fish
in America. It is a predator and is necessary for preventing
Bluegill and Crappie from stunting. By nature this fish
will not accept artificial feed, but these fish are raised
to accept the same feed that Channel Catfish and Hybrid
Sunfish eat. This greatly increases their growth rates.
*Stocking 6-8" fingerling bass is currently being evaluated
as a method to reverse slow growth rates (stunting) of bluegill
in ponds. This may be an alternative to rehabilitating ponds
with rotenone (a fish toxicant) in the future. Stocking
Rates: 80-100 per surface acre. Growth Rates: ½ - ¾ pound
per year.
BLUEGILL
Bluegills are members of the sunfish family and are one
of the most popular sport fishes. They will reproduce and
can overpopulate a pond if bass are over harvested. They
are the forage base for bass in ponds and will accept artificial
feed readily. *Recent research indicates that even though
low numbers of bass in a pond will lead to bluegill stunting,
over harvesting large male bluegills will also lead to stunting
as well. This research is ongoing and new information will
be available in a couple of years. Bluegill should be stocked
in ponds larger than 0.5 acres rather than hybrid sunfish.
This ensures better growth rates for bass. Stocking Rates:
500-1000 per surface acre. Growth Rates: Good with a strong
bass population.
REDEAR Red
Ear is a member of the sunfish family; it is not a hybrid
and will reproduce. It is a little more difficult to catch
than bluegill. Red Ear will feed on snails and may keep
snail numbers in check. Red Ear will not accept artificial
feed. Stocking red ear in combination with bluegill will
help a pond produce more pounds of fish by utilizing a wider
variety of food resources. Red ear sunfish will usually
grow faster than bluegill and may grow over 1 lb. with a
strong bass population present. Stocking Rates: 300 per
surface acre. Growth rates: unpredictable.
CHANNEL CATFISH
The Channel catfish is not only an outstanding food fish;
it is an excellent sport fish. It is very popular because
of its very fast growth rate when fed a commercial fish
food. It is compatible in lakes and ponds with all species
and works especially well with Hybrid Sunfish and Largemouth
Bass. Stocking Rates: 60-100 per surface acre; 150 per surface
acre if artificially fed. Growth Rates: Up to 1 pound per
year if fed a commercial feed.
