Stocking your pond with trout

Listen to this radio story on trout (MP3 download)

Stocking your pond with trout is easier than you might think, even if you live in an area with hot summers. Brown trout and rainbow trout are two species that are well suited to warmer temperatures. They'll thrive as long as your pond is at least ten feet deep and you stock them in the fall before the weather gets too cold. Generally, you can safely stock 300 trout per surface acre of water. The best trout for fishing average 10-to-12 inches, while smaller fish are better suited as pets. However, it's important to avoid mixing warm-water and cold-water fish since they will compete with each other for available oxygen.

Radio Interview source: Mark Fisk, owner, Hy-On-A-Hill Trout Farm

To learn more about stocking your pond, we recommend visiting these helpful Web sites:

Gone Fishing!: Learn how Charles and Marcy Graham raise rainbow trout on their acreage in western Wisconsin.

So, You Want to Put Fish in Your Pond: A guide to stocking your backyard pond, including the harvest recommendations for the best fishing opportunities.

Getting to Know Your Trout: An overview of the various characteristics associated with the most common types of trout.