Missouri fish stocking schedule

Ponds vary greatly depending on cover, vegetation, aquatic growth, and personal preference. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us. These fish will spawn this spring and should be ready to sell for Fall as s and s We have thousands of koi fish in stock, ready for pickup, and tens of thousands in ponds, waiting for their new homes. All of our fish are collected by a licensed veterinarian and are health tested to state requirements. Trenton, Sept. Troy, Oct.

Warrenton, Oct. Atchison, Oct. Basehor, Oct. Concordia, Oct. Hays, Oct. Hutchinson, Nov. Iola, Nov. Junction City, Oct. Lawrence, Oct. Louisburg, Oct. Manhattan, Oct. Ottawa, Oct. Parsons, Nov. Pratt, Nov. Salina, Oct. Good fishing depends on stocking your pond correctly. The Department recommends that the maximum number of largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish when stocked in combination be bass, bluegill, and channel catfish fingerlings per surface acre.

Stocking at lower densities is recommended in some counties due to a lack of adequate soil fertility. Stocking at higher densities usually results in slow growth and poor fish populations of all species. You must know the size of your pond so you can determine the proper numbers of fish to stock. Multiply the length and width, divide by the number of square feet in an acre—43,—and divide by two. This will give a close approximation of the pond size in acres. Because the chance of a new pond becoming contaminated with undesirable species increases as the pond ages, stocking should occur as soon as possible.

If there is any doubt about a pond holding water, stock it for less than the planned original size. Many ponds have failed to produce good fishing because they were stocked at too high a rate. This often happens when a pond has a leak or the owner miscalculates the size when ordering fish. The pond fish population will develop more favorably if it is a few fish short of the recommended stocking rate rather than if stocked with too many fish.

It is best to get bluegill established in the fall, and then introduce largemouth bass the following spring. The optional fish recommended should also be established in advance of the bass. Getting the fish to the pond in good physical condition is essential to produce a healthy population. One way to keep them in good shape is to get them to the pond as quickly as possible. A delay in transport can cause oxygen levels in the water to drop and water temperature to rise, which cause fish to become stressed.

Care in handling also is important. Any wound may become infected by bacteria or fungi. Although the fish may go into the pond alive and wiggling, they may later die from these infections. Stressed and wounded fish rarely live long enough to become lunkers.

To minimize problems, use water from your pond to fill the containers you use to transport your fish and aerate with a portable pump. If there is a temperature difference of 5 degrees or more between the pond and the water in your hauling container, submerge the hauling container in the pond and slowly exchange water until the temperature of the water in the container is the same as that in the pond.

Gradually reducing the temperature difference between the transport water and the pond water will help prevent the fish from dying due to shock.

The development of new ponds, stocked and managed according to recommendations, is a great way to provide more fishing opportunities. Commercial sources of fish are available throughout Missouri. Please contact your nearest Conservation Department office for a list of commercial fish producers, and for more information concerning pond management.

Stocking Fish in Your Pond. Statistics Elements. Bluegill Bluegill are well adapted to pond life and particularly suited for stocking in combination with largemouth bass. Channel Catfish Channel catfish do well in ponds and provide excellent fishing.

Largemouth Bass Largemouth bass are well adapted to ponds and reproduce readily in the ponds environment. Crappie Although crappie are valuable sport fish in larger bodies of water, they seldom provide an acceptable harvest in small lakes or ponds. Common Carp Common carp are not recommended for stocking in ponds. Green Sunfish This species, frequently called pond perch, creek perch or black perch, is often found in ponds that have not yet been stocked with largemouth bass and bluegill.

Link or File. Aquaguide: Stocking Fish Normally, we will be able to advise the store sponsoring the fish day at the time that any late orders are called in. Whenever possible we bring extra fish for people who may want to purchase more fish than they originally ordered or for anyone who did not pre-order.

Check with the store for the amounts and species of extra fish we may available. Upon arrival at the fish day, please go into the store and pay for your fish. Please do not get in the line for fish until your fish have been paid for. If desired, fish may be examined prior to paying for them. Even if you pre-ordered fish, you are not obligated to buy them if you're not satisfied. After paying for the fish you should be given two copies of the receipt, one copy is for the person counting the fish and the other copy is for you.

We hand count our fish and weigh the minnows in your presence to ensure you get what you paid for.