Stocking a small, decently deep, private lake

[KrappieKilla]

Agree, and good point, I plan on sticking to sunnies and bass, seems easiest, and best way to make a successful (lower maintenance) pond.

[Zelmsdawg]

You're so lucky. Having my own 'lake' to stock and manage is one of my top dreams. Hopefully one day I'll get there and if I do, I might have to send an email or two your way since you'll have all the bugs worked out by then

Good luck!

[KrappieKilla]

I am very lucky, and thankful everyday. Can't wait to embark on this, and once I have done it, or attempted it, I will try to give insight to those so they don't have to make the same mistakes I do.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Agree, and good point, I plan on sticking to sunnies and bass, seems easiest, and best way to make a successful (lower maintenance) pond.

Whatever you do don't put green sunfish in the pond. Stick with Redear sunfish, Blue gill, and perch. Channel cats & Bass will be the preditor base. These are the most common due to the capabilities for them to reproduce & can tolerate warm water in the summer. The best management you can do with a pond of that size is to harvest all of the sunfish you get, and to release all the bass.

[goblueM]

to some points, i've seen ponds choked with 8-11 inch largemouth, releasing them in such a case is the exact opposite of what you want to do. Unless you want a few dinner-plate sized bluegills, that is! Then a ton of bass is exactly what you want!

[BigGuy]

Start with 2 or 3 gal. of Minnows,they should spawn 3 or more times a year.Then late summer add fish to the millions of minnows you fathered---and watch em grow.