Although the stocking strategy you choose should be geared to the kind of fishing you want, for the best recreational fishing and table fare, the largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish combination is hard to beat in Tennessee.

Other fish combinations a pond owner may choose to stock are:

• Largemouth bass and bluegill at 100 bass/acre and 500 bluegill/acre.
• Largemouth bass, bluegill, and redear sunfish at 100 bass/acre, 400 bluegill/acre and 100 redear/acre.
• Largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish at 100 bass/acre, 500 bluegill/acre and 50 to 100 catfish/acre.
• Channel catfish only at 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 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, 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 50 largemouth bass per acre.

Grass Carp

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. 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 that they are purchasing triploid grass carp.

Obtaining Fish From TWRA

Currently, only largemouth bass (100 per acre) and bluegill (500 per acre) are available by application 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.

Click Here To View a Printable TWRA Pond Fish Application (adobe .pdf format)

Obtaining Fish From Private Producers

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 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."