Stocking a mud pond

[max384]

Hello all, long time since I've posted here.

I last had a koi pond over a decade ago. We moved and during the moving process, our filters failed on us and we lost all of our fish, and I never rebuilt a pond since then.

Fast forward a decade, and I now live on a 40 acre farm, and just dug out a pond. By farm pond standards, it's pretty small. About 30x70 feet irregularly shaped, 12 feet at its deepest. Average depth of about six feet. It'll be about 75,000 to 100,000 gallons once it fills. It is spring fed, with overflow. I live in Pennsylvania, USDA zone 6A.

I just finished digging it out a couple of weeks ago, and it's slowly filling. Where it is now:

I'm looking for advice on stocking the pond come spring time. I want it stocked with native fish and I want it to be self-sufficient (in other words, I don't plan to feed them). I'm thinking large mouth bass and bluegills. Maybe some crayfish for cleaning up the detritus on the bottom and some sterilized grass carp.

What do you guys think?

 

[Mmathis]

Check with your state’s wildlife and fisheries department.

 

[addy1]

Looking good.

Fish wise make sure you stick with what is allowed.

 

[GBBUDD]

Unfortunately the bureaucrats think they have all the answers. You do need to check with them. if they get wind that you have created such and stocked with even natives , but your retaining wall if it fails due to flooding. And the fish get out ,they can make it costly.

Patience how ever is crucial. Don't go adding a thousand minnows say and then add more because you don't see them. IF your pond works and become sustainable that 1000 that can breed two or three times a year can quickly become a nuisance. " ask me how i know"
I don't see any piles of rocks or logs and limbs in your pond. i would mimic your natural surroundings to get the best results but predictors and bait fish would be on my list. even sun fish can over take an area

 

[Faebinder]

Give it up and put a couple of kois and be happy.