I have a natural pond that is not spring fed. The water level right now is over 8 feet at the center. It will fluctuate some, but has not been less than 4 feet and does not freeze solid in the winter. I do not have filtration, although the pond contains natural vegetation. I currently have minnows and goldfish stocked. Naturally there are frogs and snails.
I want to know what kind of fish will live well in the pond. It is around a half an acre in size. The banks are sloped all the way around, but even out for a pretty level, although muddy, bottom. There are three small islands where ducks have nested in the past. I keep Pekin ducks, but the wild ones (Mallards, etc...) utilize it as well. Currently the water is high enough that the islands are barely visible, but that should receded some in the next month or so, depending on rain levels.
I believe the pond originated as a very large man-made watering hole many decades ago.
I would like to stock the pond with fish like bass or trout, but am not sure if that is wise. The minnows are breeding and the goldfish, when I happen to see them, are growing. I do not feed them and all seems well.
My greatest concern is circulation/aeration, I guess. Is it needed? Is a windmill sufficient aeration is needed? Last winter was the first time I stocked the pond and this spring there was significant winter kill. I am assuming that was due to no gas exchange as the surface froze. Prior to freezing, the minnow and red rosie population was drastically increasing. This spring, as mentioned earlier, I restocked the minnows and went with goldfish instead of rosies.
Thanks!
I want to know what kind of fish will live well in the pond. It is around a half an acre in size. The banks are sloped all the way around, but even out for a pretty level, although muddy, bottom. There are three small islands where ducks have nested in the past. I keep Pekin ducks, but the wild ones (Mallards, etc...) utilize it as well. Currently the water is high enough that the islands are barely visible, but that should receded some in the next month or so, depending on rain levels.
I believe the pond originated as a very large man-made watering hole many decades ago.
I would like to stock the pond with fish like bass or trout, but am not sure if that is wise. The minnows are breeding and the goldfish, when I happen to see them, are growing. I do not feed them and all seems well.
My greatest concern is circulation/aeration, I guess. Is it needed? Is a windmill sufficient aeration is needed? Last winter was the first time I stocked the pond and this spring there was significant winter kill. I am assuming that was due to no gas exchange as the surface froze. Prior to freezing, the minnow and red rosie population was drastically increasing. This spring, as mentioned earlier, I restocked the minnows and went with goldfish instead of rosies.
Thanks!
