Fish Stocking & Management

The following resources cover how to stock and manage fish in your pond.

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Resources

Farm Pond Fish Management on the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation website includes information on licenses and permits required for stocking your farm pond, and provides links to the appropriate forms. It also includes links to private fish hatcheries where stock can be obtained.

Fish Management in NY Ponds. This Cornell Department of Natural Resources website details how to stock fish and solve common pond fish problems. It includes resources on pond habitat assessment (temperature, water quality, clarity & depth), fish management for cold or warm water ponds, vegetation management, permits required for pond construction, frequently asked questions, suggested publications, and a large selection of links to other pond topics. (Cornell Cooperative Extension).

Fish in Ponds & Lakes: Making Good Management Choices, by Clifford Kraft, Cornell Dept. of Natural Resources, covers habitat, pond depth, water quality, spawning, fish choices, balancing your pond, and permit requirements.

Farm Pond Fish Management. This NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation site covers how to get a farm fish pond license, obtaining and stocking fish, and a brief review of possible problems.

Inland Fishes of New York. An online archive of fish images developed by (NYS DEC) and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Placing Artificial Fish Attractors in Ponds and Reservoirs, from The Ohio State University Cooperative Extension, provides guidance on the introduction of artificial structures in your pond that can concentrate fish and increase angling success.

Last updated December 19, 2023