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What's the best fish for stocking a pond in Southern Oregon between the coast range and the Cascades?

Do you have a county agricultural extension agent?

Tilapia, if it doesn't freeze.

One of the best eating fish is the freshwater perch. Had it 20 years ago in Troy Montana . They don’t get big, but they are mild tasting. Would also make a good food source for bigger fish. You might want to read more so you don’t have any regrets. Best of luck! Sounds fun.

Yeah, something along those lines.

And check with the ODFW to see what's legal..............or take you chances if the pond fails and you introduce a non-native fish into a salmon/steelhead watershed. They'd not be happy with you.

Get the water analyzed before you put any fish in.

Been thinking on this. Pond design might lend itself better to certain fish. Depth, and a place for fish to spawn. Got any pics? Hastings would be a good source of knowledge .

Do the fish have appropriate cover in the pond? A few cormorants will take off any bright idea real quick. And don’t think that you will get them with a shotgun. The damn things are smart. They will wait until you leave the house before a raiding fish party.

Don’t ask how I know.

I'd google "pond stockers in my area" and see what the results are.

Our local pond stockers come up from LA and have suggested lists/combinations of what works in our area. They'll have a route and set days that they'll be passing through. Around my area the normal combination is; LM Bass, Crappie, and Bluegill.

Don't forget about "maintenance", we routinely put in 20 grass carp a year to keep the weeds down on our 9 acre pond

Mako

PondBoss.com

Are you going to build a scaled down version of the Ark to go in it?

I would think bluegill, largemouth bass and bullhead. Most ponds aren’t very deep and can have winter kill. Gill’s, bass and bullheads are all tough and adapt well to small water. If anything you’ll have to weed them out to keep from having too many and small stunted fish.

How big is the pond?

If it's big enough I agree with bluegill and bass. Large enough pond could also support catfish.

The advice about consulting fish- knowledgeable local G&F or county extension folks is very good. When I decided to create a big windmill fed pond at 8k elevation in the SW, and before I did a bunch of excavation/dozer work, two such folks were pleased - even eager - to take a look and advise. Wound up with a good result - plenty deep at one end for coldest part of winter, good spawning space at other end, some protective cover, etc. - and fish to fit.

Maybe pray for some fish.


Works for socket sets I hear....

It don’t take much for cats

What kind of fish will Oregon let you put in your own pond? What do other people in your area stock that does well there?
Here I would stock minnows, then Bluegill, Redears, Largemouth Bass.

Don't forget your predator fish. If it's big enough, get some sterile ones like tiger muskie. Also, they have a sterile carp to help clean the edges. Make sure you have access to minnows as well. Good luck and keep us posted. I'm planning one as well.

What do you want and how much effort and money are you willing to invest.

Thow some pan fish, bass, and cats in that you catch somewhere.

There will be fish in your pond, and that's all many want.

Otherwise, analysis of water quality and exchange, advice from the extension agent,
advice from stockers...will set you up with a working ecology.

Even then, you likely can't build a functioning circular ecology that repopulates.