Pond Stocking in North Carolina

Most pond owners enjoy the recreational value that comes with a body of water on their own property, particularly when it comes to fishing. A successful and productive fishery can be achieved with the help of North Carolina State University Fisheries and Pond Management Extension stocking guidelines.

  1. Pond Conditions

    • It is always easier to stock and manage a pond that has no existing fishery. New ponds will not yield any issues, though older ponds with an established population will complicate management since possible unwanted competition among species develops. Typically, a piscicide like Rotenone, purchased from the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, is used to eliminate all aquatic life in the pond and should be used during August and September, when waters are warm and the chemical breaks down rapidly.

    Selecting Fish

    • The best pond fisheries in North Carolina are produced by stocking a combination of some or all of the following fish: largemouth bass, bluegills, redear sunfish, hybrid sunfish and channel catfish.

    Fertilized Ponds

    • If a pond is fertilized to encourage algae blooms, and thus support a more robust fishery, stocking guidelines per acre in accordance to the NC State Fisheries and Pond Management Extension are as follows: 700 bluegill, 300 redear sunfish, 100 channel catfish, 100 largemouth bass---all being between 1 to 4 inches in length. Forage fish and catfish should be stocked between October and November while largemouth bass should be added the following summer.

    Unfertilized Ponds

    • According to the NC State Fisheries and Pond Management Extension, if a pond is allowed to maintain its natural nutrient load, different stocking numbers apply: 350 bluegill, 150 redear sunfish, 50 channel catfish and 50 largemouth bass each per acre. Size and seasonal stocking times match those of fertilized ponds.