What Fish Can Survive In An Unfiltered/Natural Pond?

[The1and only]

The real question is how is the pond fed. If it is spring fed you can do Koi or natives, If it is fed by season rains it will be hit and miss on what will live long term and what will die. My family stocked one of our ponds in Wi that was similar in size with native fish we caught when a quarry was reopened and drained. A few years later in a river fed pond the only real survivors where the bass and the minnows plus one goldfish that grew to the size of a softball then vanished.

If you stick to natives you don't have to worry about any real maintenance and if you get a heron or muskrats like we had you don't sit and worry about your prized koi being eaten.

 

[gogger]

Is there anything in it now? How long has it been there?

 

[Wiggles92]

Dump a ton of locally-collected minnows in there to start; this will give them a head start for breeding and will help make sure that any bigger fish that you add will have an extra food source.

 

[BMUSCARI]

KOI, STURGEON OR CHANNEL CAT

 

[catman]

I think he meant that the pond goes 50 feet slowly gaining depth. Are you wanting a fishing pond or a kind of pet pond? If fishing then native bass, bluegill and catfish are the easiest to obtain and have virtually no restrictions. If pet then koi or goldfish would be a good choice.

 

[troppond]

wels cats, flatheads, blue cats, striped bass, hybrid striped bass, longnose gars, and mahseer, also some muskellunge and pike, get like 10 muskies and sumthin else, like rly big cats, throw food in one area, and then all the fish will learn to come there

 

[Younglin]

@ OP: Can you take some pics? And is there anything in it now?

 

[WckedMidas]

Do hybrid rock fish or hybrid striped bass what ever you no them as up there. They can live in fresh watter. maybe wells catfish. flathead catfish. pike, muskie , tiger muskie ,