Fish Production in a Central Alabama Stock Water Pond

The use of suitably constructed and located stock water ponds for food fish culture is recommended, based upon investigation into the possibilities of these small bodies of water to rear a channel catfish-largemouth bass combination. Stocked with 2,000 catfish and 100 bass per acre with supplemental feeding, two, two-year production cycles showed the following results: total fish production, 2,634 and 3,791 pounds per acre; feed conversion, 2.5 and 2.4; recovery of stocked catfish, 84 and 91 percent; recovery of stocked bass, 40 and 50 percent. In addition to supplying food fish, the pond provided recreation through the fish cultural activity and by hook and line fishing.