Fish Stocking & Available Species

In order to stock fish in Wisconsin, you must have an approved WI DNR fish stocking permit or a Type 1 WDATCP Fish Farm License (Exits Site). To renew your current Type 1 Fish Farm License click here.

Health Certificate

Since January 2002, a Fish Health Certificate (FHC) has been required for all fish stocked in Wisconsin, including private ponds. All fish available through ABI have undergone extensive testing to obtain this Health Certificate as required by law. Due to the length of time it takes to get each batch of fish health certified ABI now requires all fish stocking orders to be placed a minimum of 30 prior to stocking.

Fish Species

It is important to know something about the lives of the fish you choose to raise in your pond. Species differ in their requirements for feeding, growing, reproducing and surviving. Other species than those described below may be available.

Hybrid Bluegill - The hybrid bluegill is an excellent choice when the objective is to produce large bluegill or to provide fishing for children or impatient anglers. Hybrid Bluegills are a cross between a male Bluegill and a female Green Sunfish. Because of the cross the Hybrid Bluegill is ~80-95% male. The Hybrid Bluegill is a voracious feeder, depending mostly on insects, zooplankton and very small fish. The Hybrid Bluegill accepts commercial feeds readily, but unlike its parent species continues to feed during much colder water temperatures, resulting in faster growth. Because of this, the Hybrid Bluegill will attain a weight of 2 to 3 pounds at maturity. Hybrid Bluegill should only be stocked in ponds with a strong forage base. Generally, we recommend 500 Hybrid Bluegill per Surface Acre in ponds two acres or smaller.

Largemouth Bass - one of the most sought after fish by anglers, it is very well suited for stocking in most ponds. Largemouth bass prefer quiet, clear waters with abundant vegetation (Iguchi and Matsuura, 2004). More specifically, they prefer shallow water that is usually no deeper than 2.5 meters, but they sometimes occupy deeper regions. Fish, crayfish, frogs, and large insects make up their diet. The Largemouth Bass is commonly used to control populations of Bluegill in ponds and lakes by stocking approximately 100 per Surface Acre or 75 per Surface Acre in Hybrid Bluegill ponds. By stocking Hybrid Bluegill or regular Bluegill, you can usually achieve a natural balance between predator and prey.

Smallmouth Bass - Sometimes called a “bronzeback” for its brassy brown hue, the smallmouth is one of the strongest fish for its weight. Although this species is very popular with anglers, it is not always the best choice for shallow lakes or ponds. Smallmouth Bass require cool water temperatures for good growth, and normally have a hard time competing for food with the more aggressive Largemouth Bass. Smallmouth Bass prefer gravel or rubble substrate, boulders, some shade and cover, along with deep pools for stream environments along with a strong forage base. If there are no Largemouth Bass, you can usually stock approximately 100 per Surface Acre

Rainbow Trout - This is a great fish to stock if you plan on ice fishing. One of the best fish to use when stocking your pond this fish produces an acrobatic show when hooked that is sure to entertain - they can easily leap into the air three or four times their body length.. Rainbow Trout should only be stocked in ponds that are consistently below 70°F throughout the year. Sustained temperatures over 72°F will prove fatal. Rainbow Trout are strong feeders, so plan on stocking minnows or feeding 40% protein fish pellets if you do not have a large forage base. Rainbows can live in your pond for about 6 year.
We recommend stocking about 100 per Surface Acre, but much greater amounts can be held under certain conditions. Brook and Brown trout are also available at times - please ask!

Walleye - This fish generally prefers large, deep, cool open water areas with rocky shoals and inlet streams. However, if conditions are right, a certain amount can be maintained in smaller lakes and ponds. Walleye are bottom dwellers during daytime hours, so lakes and ponds with stagnant summertime bottom water do not provide good habitat. In addition, they are among the first to die during low oxygen conditions, so pond owners considering stocking Walleye should think of installing an Aeration System (see aeration section). Stocking densities vary greatly. Unlike trout, walleye will not eat artificial foods. There must be a good supply of natural food (plankton, insect larvae, crayfish or minnows, bass, perch, and to a certain extent Bluegills, so a strong forage base is necessary. Generally, we recommend stocking about 20 per Surface Acre.

Black Crappie - The Black Crappie option is the most complicated of pond stocking combinations in small ponds due to their ability to reproduce rapidly and overpopulate. Successful crappie ponds are greater than 5 acres with abundant habitat (brush piles) and numerous small (less than 1 pound) largemouth bass. Many people have had success with Black Crappie, mainly because no spawning occurred. Small crappie find eat a variety of food, such as zooplankton, insect larvae, snails, and leech, but adult Black Crappie feed mainly on small fish. If you would like to stock Black Crappie, we recommend about 100-200 per Surface Acre.

Yellow Perch - the best eating of all fresh water fish, but unfortunately its pond reputation does not match this. Being a very prolific fish with few spawning substrate requirements, the perch can cause serious stunting problems in nearly any lake or pond. The yellow perch provides good forage for most predator fish, especially walleye. Yellow Perch consume a wide variety of food items, but fish do not become a major component of their diet until after reaching 7" in size. We recommend stocking 100-200 per Surface Acre in ponds with Walleye.

Northern Pike - The Northern Pike is one of the largest game fish feeding continuously throughout the day. They can eat fish up to 18" long, ducks and even fully-grown Muskrats. Because of their territoriality and heavy feeding, only 2-4 per Surface Acre should be stocked to control other fish populations.

Muskellunge - Muskies are closely related to Northern Pike preferring large lakes with both deep and shallow basins. Muskellunge can have a positive effect in waters over populated with perch, bass, and to a very limited extent on Bluegill. Stock 1-2 per Surface Acre in suitable waters void of Northern Pike.

Fathead Minnow - Fathead Minnows are the most important fish in any management program. The Fathead Minnow is a plankton feeder, but it will also feed very actively on mosquito larva and on commercial feed. This fish spawns from the spring until late summer on the underside of nearly any material near the shore. Reproduction can be improved by placing structure in 1 to 3 feet of water. We recommend stocking about 100 - 150 pounds (about 5000 each) per Surface Acre in most waterbodies.