Renewable Fish Species Selection
Posted by anondude091@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 40 comments
Hello, I am wanting to stock a 1 acre pond on my property with the most renewable and reliable fish species to serve as a food source.
Climate is Midwest United States. Common fish in similar ponds in the area are: largemouth bass, Catfish, bluegill, crappie, etc.
Does anyone know what would be the most sensible species / mix of species to serve as the most resilient long term food resource for my family?
Thanks!
ScrapmasterFlex@reddit
The very first episode of that stupid-ass show "Doomsday Preppers" had a family that built a ridiculously-hi-tech "Tilapia Farm" in their backyard pool .... that not only raised Tilapia for food - but grew Algae that could both feed the Tilapia & also use as a small food source for their Chickens, which they constantly harvested Eggs but also ate the Chickens. But they had Tilapia everything and got to the point they had a basically Perpetual-Motion-Machine of Tilapia.
And I guess Tilapia has a relatively mild-and-neutral flavor so it can be used from everything from Fish Tacos to Tilapia Marsala/Piccata/Pizzaiola to Fried/Grilled/Fish Sandwiches etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxbAj3JjMZg
This dude and his entire family was on some OTHER SHIT- but that doesn't mean he didn't do some ridiculous Tilapia-type of shit in his own back yard.
And again, Tilapia is kind of versatile ... it's just he hadn't realized, if the whole neighborhood knows he has some sort of Personal Food Farm in his backyard Tilapia Pool & Chicken Catwalk, he's gonna be getting visitors ricky-fuckin-tick.
CTSwampyankee@reddit
I remember that episode! chickens lived above and pooped in the pool. I wonder where that guy is now.
dittybopper_05H@reddit
Anyway, like I was sayin', tilipia is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, tilipia-kabobs, tilipia creole, tilipia gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple tilipia, lemon tilipia, coconut tilipia, pepper tilipia, tilipia soup, tilipia stew, tilipia salad, tilipia and potatoes, tilipia burger, tilipia sandwich. That- that's about it.
ScrapmasterFlex@reddit
And that's all I have to say about that Tilapia... 🤣🤣🤣💚💯
dittybopper_05H@reddit
https://i.redd.it/qnls73kbvgbf1.gif
No_Day5399@reddit
Tilapia is a fast growing fish
stream_inspector@reddit
The county agent can recommend a mix that is appropriate. Usually, having a single species isn't best. Bluegill can take over and outcompete bass in some circumstances. Need right mix of 2 or 3 species.
Bassically-Normal@reddit
This should be the top comment. The county agent will know what thrives in your area, and can guide you to stocking in the right balance as well as vegetation, cover, treatment, and best maintenance and harvesting practices.
It varies wildly from one region to another, and sometimes even within a given region due to differences in soil.
Upbeat-Stage2107@reddit
And once bluegills take over their size decreases. Definitely want some bass or catfish to regulate the population
hoardac@reddit
Catfish are nearly indestructible. Plus they pair well with hush puppies.
mildlyornery@reddit
My only complaint is the muddy taste. Sometimes no matter how well or fast ya prepare em, some of em that taste like mud.
PapaJ18@reddit
We’ve had a pond stocked with catfish for years and never had that problem. Could just be a regional thing
hoardac@reddit
I only had that happen once but I know what you mean.
Ebomb31@reddit
If you have a balanced ecosystem they don't taste like that.
mildlyornery@reddit
I'm just tryna eat a fish. Ain't tryna customize their habitat. I've caught channel, flathead and bullhead over the years. Sometimes they just got too much stank on em. Edible, but not optimal.
Ebomb31@reddit
Fair take, but this guy is literally building a pond and customizing their habitat
fattest-fatwa@reddit
Ones that live their entire lives in 1 acre stock tanks are particularly likely to taste this way.
IlliniWarrior6@reddit
you're going to limited by the traveling fish stocking tank trucks - they have a season schedule for retail store parking lot drop-offs - put your order in and arrive with your pop coolers .....
from the pond inventory sounds like you aren't in the far north Midwest >>> but don't discount the predator fish like pike, walley and northerns - they'll flourish - they don't have local competition for those bluegills and get HUGE - just a matter of finding the fingerlings .....
Ebomb31@reddit
Don't forget mosquito fish. They're an important pattern of the food chain that will help support your game fish getting big, healthy, and tasty to eat.
You'll also want to have things like cattails. They're edible too and provide healthy habitat. Water lily and water hyacinth have done well in my life swimming pond. Watch out for duckweed. While it's a good food crop for fish like goldfish and carp and also for livestock, it will absolutely take over.
Pay as much attention to the plants and aquatic habitat and ecosystem as you do the fish species.
You'll want turtles. Newts. Crayfish (make sure to get a locally adapted variety)
Many of these will show up naturally, but others will need to be introduced.
If you do all that, in perhaps a season, you'll be able to sit on the dock with the sound of redwing blackbird song echoing through the cattails and take in the beauty of a sunset, pulling fish you raised yourself from your pond with ease.
It'll make magic.
Embarrassed-Aspect-9@reddit
Use a variety of species, then install aquaponic pumps that keep roots in pipes wet and flow the excess back into the pond. That way you got crazy yeild low water consumption and a cleaner pond. ❤️ was gonna help people set up that then C19 hit and ate all the savings to start up. 💀
AlphaDisconnect@reddit
Bluegill, rock bass sometimes, and catfish. Walleye, saugeye and sauger honorable mentions.
FlounderAccording125@reddit
As much as this fish grosses me out, Tilapia.
VardisFisher@reddit
Carp
Backsight-Foreskin@reddit
My only experience was a friend who had a catfish pond on his property. He would ring a bell and the catfish would swarm around the dock, and he would throw in fish kibble. You could just scoop them out with a net.
xX420GanjaWarlordXx@reddit
This kinda makes me sad :(
Little fish puppies
R1chard_Nix0n@reddit
Nah, they're just food whores.
xikbdexhi6@reddit
...we say as we scoop them out with a net for an easy meal.
Jaicobb@reddit
I would eat a catfish first if you have never had one. If I had to survive on catfish I think I'd rather just die.
FlashyImprovement5@reddit
Ours has catfish and widemouth bass apparently a few bluegill, although those were not stocked
Galaxaura@reddit
You need to contact your local extension office for advice. Or any local fish/wildlife conservation office to know the best one.
Sweet-Leadership-290@reddit
I suggest
Coppernose bluegill
Rootin-Tootin-Newton@reddit
Tilapia
PrisonerV@reddit
County extension or DNR.
They can also probably provide the fish at very low costs. My dad stocked his pond for like free. He just had to go pick up the bags of fish.
Industry_Signal@reddit
Fish and game in many states will stock for you. Pure sustainability is probably tilapia or carp, but they are probably considered invasive. Usually fish and game will stock with catfish, bass and blue gill. If you give them fish kibble for the first few months, the fish will come to the dock when you come out.
biobennett@reddit
here's a reasonable stocking list for a 1 acre Midwest pond based on Minnesota climate
JRHLowdown3@reddit
Down South they recommend stocking bass, bluegill and catfish.
Building and stocking a pond was one of the first things we did in the 90's when we bought land. It takes a few years for the fish and pond to really start producing, so it's good to start early with things like that and your fruit and nut trees.
GA used to have a free stocking program in the long, long ago. You may want to check with local AG folks and see if your state has something similar.
AdditionalAd9794@reddit
It depends on the climate and what food sources they have in the lake, ie crayfish, mosquito larvae, tadpoles, etc. As well as the climate
Also is the pond stagnant, does a creek flow through do you have an aerator system
Generally catfish and then carp are gonna be the hardest, though be aware if you pond overflows there's a risk of investing nearby waterways with invasives
jnyquest@reddit
Your local county extension office would be where you should go for such info.
ResponsibleBank1387@reddit
Check with your state fish and wildlife. A mix of natives, also some nonprofits have funds to help you.
1millerce1@reddit
Look up what native fish will grow in your specific locale. Choose one with some meat on the bones.