Fish Production Enhancement Strategies
What can I do to enhance sport and game fish production and fishing in my pond or lake?
There are many techniques to help enhance fish production and fishing. Consider the following; stocking fathead minnows to provide supplemental forage, construction of fish shelters, supplemental feeding of commercial fish feeds, aeration during the summer and winter months, liming and fertilization, maintaining a record of harvested fish and controlling vegetation growth.
More Enhancement Strategies
Fathead minnows: stocked at about 500 - 1,000 per acre during or prior to initial stocking of a new or renovated pond/lake will improve bass survival and growth. Actually, all fish benefit from the presence of fathead minnows. Fathead minnows reproduce several times throughout the growing season and produce abundant forage for stocked fish. After bass are stocked, most fathead minnows will be eliminated and bass turn to bluegill for their primary food source. Periodic restocking of fathead minnows at a rate of 1,000 - 2,000 per surface acre in the Spring and/or Spring will greatly enhance fish growth, especially if you are not feeding a commercial fish feed.
Fish shelter or "attractors" can be made from many different materials. The purpose of a fish shelter is to provide a place for small fish to escape predation and attract fish for anglers. Structures should be placed at a depth of 2-6 feet. Discarded Christmas trees and cedar trees make excellent shelters when anchored to the bottom. Rock piles, cinder blocks and tire reefs (tires tied together) are also good shelters. Usually only 1 structure is placed for every 1-2 acres and no more than 3 per acre.
Supplemental feeding of commercial fish feeds. Floating feeding rings for containing feed can be made from PVC pipe or tubing anchored in place. We suggest using at least 2" diameter pipe and making the ring 50' in diameter. One feeding station per acre is sufficient. In larger lakes use 1 for every 3 acres.
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