Pond Management Options
Before
a pond is stocked, deciding which species you would like to raise and
which would do best in your pond is important. The Cooperative Extension
Service only recommends fish species combinations that have proven to
provide excellent fishing opportunities in farm ponds (All-Purpose Option).
Management practices to maintain good fishing in ponds with these species
are fairly straightforward, simple and have been proven effective through
years of research and experience.
There are alternative management strategies for farm pond fisheries
that rely on other species and more intensive management schemes. Some
of these combinations are relatively untried or work well only under certain
specific conditions. Pond owners should be aware that they might need to
contract with a private farm pond consultant to properly implement and maintain
such alternative fisheries.
In small ponds (< 1 acre), the All-Purpose management strategy is
not recommended because it is difficult to maintain a balanced predator:prey
community. In these ponds, single-species fisheries tend to work
best. Channel catfish only and hybrid sunfish (bream) fisheries work
well in these smaller ponds.
|
|
Sport Fish Management Options:
A list of sport
fish suppliers located in Arkansas is available
here.
|
