Types of Fish to Stock in a Cold Weather Pond

Want to stock your cold weather pond with bullhead? That’s a great choice! Bullhead are tough fish. They can live in all kinds of water, even if there’s not much oxygen. They’re fun to catch, and they taste great. But before you put bullhead in your pond, here are some things to think about.

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Pond Stuff You Need to Know

Every pond is different, so you have to think about yours specifically. Things like how big it is, how deep it is, how cold the water gets, and if there are weeds matter a lot. These things will help you choose the right fish.

Size: If your pond is small (less than half an acre), you might just want to stock catfish or hybrid sunfish. Bigger, deeper ponds give you more fish choices.
Depth: Your pond needs to be at least 5 feet deep so it doesn’t freeze all the way in winter. Deeper is better! You want at least 20 inches of water under the ice so your fish can live.
Water Quality: Keep your pond water clean. No pesticides, fertilizers, or animal poop. Your pond liner (the bottom of your pond) should be made of something that won’t hurt the fish, like reinforced polyethylene.
Aeration: Your pond needs oxygen, especially in winter. When ice covers the pond, it’s hard for oxygen to get in. A pond aerator or de-icer will keep a hole open in the ice.

More Fish Friends for Your Bullhead

Bullhead can live by themselves, but they’ll be happier with other fish friends. This will help your pond stay healthy. Here are some other fish that like cold weather.

Channel Catfish:

Channel catfish are tough, just like bullhead.
They like to eat on the bottom of the pond, which helps keep it clean.
They grow fast and get big, which makes them fun to catch.
They don’t make babies easily in ponds, so it’s best to stock them with other fish.

Mudcat Catfish:

Mudcat catfish are easy to take care of.
They’re like bullhead: they live on the bottom and eat stuff that falls down there.

Largemouth Bass:

Bass are a popular fish that can handle cold water.
They eat other fish, which helps keep things balanced.
But bass need to have smaller fish to eat, or they won’t survive.

Bluegill:

Bluegill are like snacks for bass!
They’re tough and easy to take care of.
They eat bugs and plants, which helps keep the pond clean.

Hybrid Bluegill:

These bluegill are a mix of two different kinds.
They’re easy to manage because most of them are boys.

Redear Sunfish:

Redear sunfish are good if you have lots of snails in your pond.
They look like bluegill but have bigger mouths.

Koi:

Koi are really pretty fish. They come in all sorts of bright colors.
They’re tougher than they look and can handle cold water.
But they need deep water (at least 3 feet) to stay warm in winter.

Other Cool Fish:

Yellow Perch: If you like to fish when the pond is frozen, try yellow perch!
Trout: Some trout, like rainbow trout, can live in cold ponds. But they need lots of oxygen. They’re pretty and fun to catch!
Sunfish: Sunfish are pretty and easy to take care of.
Shiners: Shiners are little fish that eat algae and bugs, which cleans the pond. Bigger fish like to eat them, too!

Fish That Are Troublemakers

Some fish are like bullies in a pond. They cause problems, so it’s better not to stock them.

Don’t put these fish in your pond:

Crappie: Crappie are cool, but they make too many babies and then don’t grow big.
Green Sunfish: These guys are greedy and eat all the food that other sunfish want.
Common Carp: Carp like to stir up mud on the bottom, which makes the water dirty.
Other Catfish: Bullhead and channel catfish are good, but stay away from flathead and blue catfish. They’ll eat all the sunfish.

Where to Get Your Fish

Don’t take fish from a river or lake! You might accidentally bring bad stuff to your pond. Go to a special fish store called a hatchery. They have healthy fish that are happy living in ponds. They can also teach you how to take care of them.

When to Stock:

It’s best to put fish in your pond when it’s not too hot, like in spring or fall. This helps the fish relax.
If you’re stocking different kinds of fish, put the bluegill in first (fall or winter), then the bass the next spring. That way, the bluegill will have time to grow bigger so the bass don’t eat them all at once.

How Many Fish is Too Many?

It depends on how big your pond is and what kind of fish you choose. The hatchery can tell you how many to buy. It’s better to have fewer fish than too many. If there are too many fish, they’ll get stressed and won’t grow big. You can also ask someone who knows about fish in your area.

Taking Care of Fish in Winter

Even tough fish need help in winter. Make sure their water is clean and they have enough oxygen. If you have koi, they’ll eat less in winter.

If you choose your fish carefully and follow these tips, your cold weather pond will be a happy home for your fish!