Fish Farming for the Homestead

Pond Size

• Planning, designing, constructing and stocking a fish farming pond requires researching local climatic conditions, fish species that will tolerate the conditions you can provide and the possible size of the pond. The larger and deeper you can dig your pond, the better. Fish ponds should be one acre or larger with about 25 percent of the surface area being 15 feet deep or more. Pond installation professionals recommend a depth of 18 to 22 feet. Adequate depth will help stabilize water levels and minimize fish winter-kill. Pond depth also controls evaporation in high temperatures.

Pond Location

• Examine your property. Do you have an area where water collects and remains visible for a long period? Do you have established water-loving plants such as reed canary grass, willows or cattails? Are you in a wetland area? Do you have a spring or creek on the land? Ground water retention is an important factor in fish farm pond construction. Locations with standing water are ideal. Determine which areas will drain into your pond location. Drainage from one acre, one inch deep, is 27,000 gallons. Evaluate the soil. Clay soil or a clay and loam mix is preferred. Avoid locations with heavy gravel, sand or limestone content that encourages drainage. Construct your pond with an irregular shoreline to help control wind erosion. Ponds built near mature shade trees will benefit from their cooling effect during hot summer months.

Water Quality

• Water quality is of the utmost importance in constructing and maintaining a healthy fish pond; survival and production are at stake. Have your water tested to ensure that it is compatible with the requirements of the fish species your pond will contain. Contact your local county extension agent for advice and a test kit. The test will include the amount of dissolved gases (such as oxygen) heavy metal concentrations, dissolved soils, acidity, turbidity and nutrient levels. Constant water flow through a pond improves conditions for fish survival. If this flow is not feasible, provide aeration with a pond pump, waterfall or fountain.

Fence Your Pond

• Construct a sturdy fence around your fish pond. Livestock and wildlife want to gather around water, causing the bank to erode, degrading pond water quality and destroying vegetation. Fencing the pond is also a safety precaution for families with small children.

Stocking the Pond

• Aquatic farming professionals recommend stocking your pond in spring or early summer. Contact commercial hatcheries to obtain species of fingerlings adaptable to your pond conditions. In most states it is illegal to transport live fish from lakes and rivers. It is also risky. Bringing in wild fish can also bring in disease, weeds or an unwelcome species to unbalance the eco-system of your pond. Perch, bluegills, bass, shiners, sunfish and crappie are favored fish farm selections. Shiners provide food for bluegills, and bluegills are a staple of bass and catfish diets. Try to achieve a balance of both prey and predator in your pond. Consult your state's fish and game department for a list of hatcheries and a recommendation of stocking quantities of each species to create a balanced pond.