This has been the sixth wettest March on record, filling ponds and lakes with the runoff from creeks and streams. Pond levels are up. This has many landowners enthused about re-establishing fish populations in private ponds.

Stocking should take place during the spring (April to June) or the fall (September to Novem­ber). When evaluating a pond for stocking, make sure to keep in mind the typical problems that may be encountered during the hottest months of the summer.

With smaller ponds, oxygen depletion can put fish in danger. This may be resolved by installing a pump to keep oxygen levels at adequate levels during hot cloudy days or initially stocking at a conservative level. This may sound somewhat simplistic, but always remember that the fish you stock today will grow in size and number, as will their need for food, oxygen and even space.

It is always best to stock a pond from scratch. Unwanted species will interfere with the desirable fish and even prey on them. Che­m­ical treatment with rote­none can remove unwanted species, but this might also be partially done by trapping (especially with turtles and some other “predators”).

Catfish culture is generally recommended for ponds smaller than one surface acre and for larger ponds with continuously muddy water. Channel or blue catfish may be stocked with fathead minnows as a food source, or alone (you may need to feed). If you will not be feeding the catfish, stock 100 catfish and 1,000 fathead minnows per surface acre. For fed catfish, stock at a rate of 1,000 per surface acre.

When stocking or treating ponds, it is very important to accurately calculate surface acre. Ninety percent of area estimates are over what is actually present.

To get surface acres, stake the normal fill water line and measure the length and width in feet, multiply and divide by 43,560 — this will give you surface acres.

If your pond is larger than 1 acre and relatively clear, you can stock bass and sunfish combinations. Remember, you have to stock appropriate forage fish for bass to feed on. Also remember that if you are stocking other than forage fish with your bass, you will need to stock the other fish earlier if at fingerling size so that the bass won’t be able to reach them all. Or, if they are stocked at the same time, it’s advisable to stock sunfish larger than 3 inches and catfish larger than 8 inches.

Fingerling largemouth bass should be stocked at 50 per surface acre. Or 20 advanced bass may be stocked per surface acre. Forage fish should be stocked at 30 adult or 500 fingerling blue­gill per surface acre. For more information on stock farm ponds, visit http://srac.tamu.edu.