There are almost always some great options for fish that will thrive in your pond. But first, it’s necessary to define your goals. If you’re looking to stock an acre or more pond on your land and you’re not aiming for the ornamental types like koi, then you’ll need to decide exactly what you want out of your pond. If you’re an avid angler and love a great fight, then largemouth bass and channel cats are a great option. You’ll also need to add a substantial population of prey fish like bluegill and fathead minnows to support the predators as they grow to sporting size. If you’re looking primarily for a great source of tasty food, you may want to leave out the bass (not everyone likes their taste) and go for milder catfish, bluegill, crappie or perch, depending on your region. Fortunately, those varieties can also offer a good fight if that’s your preference. iIt’s a good idea to check with a good local fishery or your state’s Department of Natural Resources to achieve the correct balance of fish. Leaving out major predator fish means you’ll need to harvest regularly so that you don’t suffer from an overpopulation of stunted fish.
If you’ve got a beautiful new backyard pond and you want some brightly colored fish with personality to add interest, there are a number of good options. Koi are an obvious choice - they can grow large and come in some stunning color combinations. If you’re not looking for show quality specimens, koi can be quite affordable. Even goldfish come in a huge variety of colors and shapes, and many have exotic features like bulbous eyes, multiple fins and other specially bred features. One caveat here is that fancy goldfish with highly altered features are weak swimmers and cannot compete with “regular” fish for food or to escape predators, so they should never be mixed -- it’s best to stick with Comets and Shubunkins when other fish are involved. Aside from the carp family, you might enjoy a pumpkinseed, a member of the sunfish family, but it’s a good idea to have only one so it can’t reproduce and overcrowd your pond. Great options for small schools include fathead minnows, golden rudd, golden tench, any of the orfes (golden, silver & blue), and the tiny but hardy mosquito fish.
