The idea of successful fish production in a small pond is to balance the
rapid over-population of the bream with the consumption of a whole lot of
the little bream by a few bass and catfish. Part of the work of
keeping a pond’s fish population in balance falls to the owner. The
pond owner should be prepared to take a rod and reel fairly often to the
pond banks and catch a few bass and catfish, and a lot of bream for the
family table. By the way, all three of these most commonly stocked
fish species are delicious!
Once, again, the best place to find good advice for fish stocking in a
family pond is to contact the local extension agent. There are many
sources of fish for stocking ponds, and some are better and closer, which
is very important, than others. Talk to the extension agent.
Many states offer programs which will provide fish for stocking in private
ponds free of charge for the owners. For example, Missouri has a
Private Pond Stocking Program which provides the right number of
fingerling fish for each particular pond, and the Missouri Department of
Conservation will help the pond owner plan and prepare for the free fish.
Most states have similar programs.
Other Benefits of a Multi-use Pond
One of the prime benefits of a pond close to the home is that it provides
a ready source of water for irrigation. In the United States, in
most locales, drought or at least water shortage at crucial crop times is
a constant problem. With a pond close at hand, and a small pump and
gas-powered engine, a reliable and controllable source of garden
irrigation water is always at hand.
This ready source of water can be especially helpful to smallholders who
have orchards or berry operations for cash crops. Some growing
seasons turn dry just when fruit is setting or filling, and entire crops
can be lost - along with the cash the crop would have generated - because of
lack of water. By burning a little gas in a pump motor to pull water
from a pond to the orchard or garden, a small farmer can keep a crop going
by irrigating from the pond until the next natural rain, and thereby
prevent a disastrous crop failure. Of course, the family garden can
benefit quite often from irrigation, too.
One very real benefit of a pond is the sight of wildlife which WILL come
to the pond for water. Deer, raccoons, turkey and many other animals
will visit the pond, and they will leave their tracks in the mud to prove
they have visited, even if they come at night and aren’t seen. As
far as birds go, there is absolutely nothing a homeowner can do which will
attract more birds and more kinds of birds than providing a good source of
water. Warblers, blackbirds, herons, ducks, geese, hawks, and even
eagles all will orient their lives to a water source. There are few
things more pleasurable than watching the birdlife on a small farm going
about its business near a small pond.
Looking at the Big Picture
The benefits of a multi-use pond on a small farm are many.
Well-built and properly designed ponds increase the value of a farm, and
they provide a great deal of pleasure to the family living there.
However, like all good things, ponds don’t come without costs, and part of
the costs come before even a shovelful of dirt is moved. By planning
and preparing properly, a smallholder can save a whole lot of misery and
expense when putting a pond on the farm.
