I live in Western iowa. I was wanting to stock a farm pond. It already has croppie, some bass, and possiby a couple grass carp

[KMB33]

I live in Western iowa. I was wanting to stock a farm pond. It already has croppie, some bass, and possiby a couple grass carp. What should go in there? Maybe catfish? Also where in western iowa could i find someone to stock it and how much could it be expected to cost. Also how dot thay do it?

[philbourjaily]

Cannel cats do well in farm ponds and can grow to good size. I'd contact your local Iowa DNR fisheries biologist for stocking advice.

[jay]

Take Phil's advice about calling IDNR; many states offering stocking programs that are down right cheap. I'm the president of our 17 acre neighborhood lake. Illinois DNR stocked the entire lake with bluegill, redear, catfish and LM bass for $42.00.

Same number/size of fish from local hatchery was almost $18,000.00. That number is not a misprint.

[Beekeeper]

Phil gave you good advice. Crappie can be problemeatic in ponds, especially smaller ponds as they can over populate rapidly. You might very well have to start over. Most state DNR fisheries departments can conduct on site sampling of farm ponds to determine population balance and make further stocking recommendations. Just shotgunning fish inot a pond without knowing your present situation can make for problems.

[vtbluegrass]

If you want big bass having crappie can go poorly. Other than crappie over populating as previously stated they compete directly with you bass for resources. Crappie eat the same thing as your bass especially the young bass that you want to be able to grow fast. If you have common carp just be sure to keep them in check because they too can wreck a pond. Like those before me say, the DNR will have the answers.

[jbird]

Phil's right.

[DakotaMan]

I'm with Phil. DNR will know. I stocked one across the South Dakota state line probably not too far from you. Bass, bluegills and catfish. It was a stock pond about half an acre and held 15 catfish. We didn't harvest the catfish too often because they were there to keep the blue gills from overpopulating. The cats and the bass ate the bluegills and we fished for bass. The bass grow quickly and you can harvest quite a few without depleating the population but you have to watch it.

[rudyglove27]

Agreed with philbourjaily and + 1 for you sir!!!