How and where to collect fish?

[Eric L]

Well, I have decided to go through with filling the the dorment 2000 gallon pond (I measured it out and guestimate it between 1700 and 2100 gallons total0 in my backyard and starting a native fish pond.

Where do you guys go to collect your fish, do you go up to mountain rivers, lakes ect?

I was thinking of just catching them with rod and reel but that would only yield certain species like perch and bass.

How do you guys do it, do you go snorkeling with a net and turn over rocks? Fish what fish do you get when you do this?

Do fish traps work?





Sugestiong please




Thanks,

Eric

 

[ewurm]

I target certain species, and never catch them by hook. If you catch them while they are fry, they are much more likely to adapt to the small surroundings. Get a minnow seine, and a big fine mesh net, and put in some time. It took me 4 hours to catch my bass after I spotted him as a fry!

 

[JD7.62]

It depends on what kind of fish you want to do. If it was me Id add a couple large flathead catfish. They IMO look like a monsterfish and when it comes to feeding time they are a monster fish! Of course you would need a rod and reel and the know how to catch one. Pond mates could include other large preds like bass, pickeral, other cats, or large sunfish as well sucker type fish like drum, buffalo, and redhorses.

If you want small fish the best thing is to buy a seine net. Get a buddy to go to a local creek and with that you can catch all kinds of neat minnows and young fish. Tomorrow I am going collecting for the first time this year and I cant wait!

 

[rottbo]

I get big flatheads all the time where you located i will hook you up

 

[Eric L]

Well, I dont want to ship any fish in, the whole point of me doing this is that its going to be cheap, all I need is to add is a good pump and build a filter out of some rubbermaid boxes and such.

Anyways I am thinking of of basicly spending a weekend just fishing rod and reel style, building a couple cheap fish traps and then going around with a huge net and some snorkel gear. Basicly I would see what I get and keep what I like.