Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Ed Carter, Executive Director

• Largemouth bass and bluegill at 75-100 bass/acre and 500 bluegill/acre.
• Largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish at 75-100 bass/acre, 400 bluegill/acre and 100 redear sunfish/acre.
• Largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish at 75-100 bass/acre, 500 bluegill/acre, and 50-75 catfish/acre.
• Largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish at 75-100 bass/acre, 400 bluegill/acre, 100 redear sunfish/acre and 50-75 catfish/acre.
• Channel catfish only at 100-150/acre.

All of the above combinations, except catfish only, must be stocked in ponds larger than 0.25 acres, and preferably in ponds 1 acre or larger. Channel catfish can be stocked alone in any size pond at 100-150 per acre, without supplemental feeding.

Stocking hybrid sunfish can offer a good alternative for owners of very small ponds (less than 0.25 acres) up to ponds 3 acres in size. But it is important for the owner to know that certain conditions are critical and need to be met for the success of ponds stocked with hybrid sunfish. First, do not stock hybrid sunfish into ponds containing other fish, and never stock them in combination with other bream(bluegill and redear sunfish) species. The reason for this is because hybrid sunfish will crossbred with other bream species and hybrid identity and vigor will soon be lost. Second, hybrid sunfish should always be stocked in combination with a predator fish, such as largemouth bass or catfish, to control both the small amount of expected hybrid sunfish reproduction (which is not desirable) and wild fish which may accidently get into the pond. In either case, more food will be available for the stocked hybrids.

It is important to remember that hybrid sunfish management is for production of large sunfish, and bass growth will be less than desirable. Also, periodic restocking of hybrid sunfish will be necessary to sustain the fishery for more than a few years. Pond owners should keep records of the number of hybrid sunfish removed and if possible, restock with 3 to 4 inch hybrids when 60 to 75 percent of the original stocked fish have been caught and removed. The recommended stocking rate is 750 hybrid sunfish and 30 largemouth bass per acre, or 400 hybrid sunfish and 100 catfish per acre.

White amur, commonly called grass carp is another fish species that may be stocked into ponds that have aquatic plant problems. Grass carp feed almost exclusively on aquatic plants and therefore can be an effective biological control method when aquatic plants become a nuisance. Although aquatic plants are beneficial to natural functions in fishing ponds and lakes, they can interfere with the owners preferred use of the pond when allowed to spread unchecked. Triploid grass carp may be stocked with other fish species at recommended rates and may be obtained from commercial fish producers. Only triploid (sterile) grass carp are legal to stock in Tennessee, so pond owners should obtain verification from the sellers that they are purchasing triploid grass carp.

Currently, only largemouth bass (100 per acre) and bluegill (500 per acre) are available by application (see publications below) from TWRA for stocking into newly constructed and/or renovated ponds and small lakes that are at least 0.25 acres or larger. There is a fee of $100 per acre to defray cost of the program. This fee is prorated, so a half (0.50) acre pond would cost $50. Bluegill are stocked first in October through November and largemouth bass are stocked the following year, in June. For this reason, ponds should be built and/or renovated, have water and an application turned in to TWRA by September 30, if a landowner plans to stock with TWRA fish.

Other fish species, including largemouth bass, bluegill and grass carp may be purchased from commercial fish producers located in Tennessee.

Fish for stocking ponds, including triploid grass carp, may also be available at your local feed store, farmers supply stores and cooperatives. Fish producers visit some of these stores on a regular basis during the spring and fall. Call your local store for more information.

Disclaimer: "Links to commercial sites and distribution sites are provided for information and convenience only. Inclusion of sites or locations does not imply Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's approval of their product or service to the exclusion of others that may be similar, nor does it guarantee or warrant the standard of the products or service offered."