NEW IDEAS FOR THE OLD FARM POND

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Any of these large catfish will readily reproduce in farm ponds if suitable nesting sites (which can be made by sinking oldfashioned milk cans or similar-sized containers in the pond) are available. One disadvantage of stocking catfish and largemouth bass together, though, is that the bass will eventually eliminate the catfish by preying on their young.

Chain pickerel (Esox niger): If I had a farm pond anywhere on the Atlantic coastal plain from New Brunswick to Florida, I'd consider stocking pickerel. Although I don't know. of any farm ponds that are actually stocked with pickerel, this species' favored natural habitat is small bodies of water, where it's a frequent associate of both the largemouth and smallmouth bass. In my opinion, the pickerel—though bony—is a superior food fish to the largemouth bass and is the equal of the smallmouth. In fact, whereas many anglers keep the bass they catch, and throw back the equally sporty pickerel, I often do just the opposite! An added advantage of stocking pickerel is that these fish feed voraciously all year long: You can catch them during the dog days of August and through a layer of ice in the winter (times when bass are sluggish and hard to interest in bait or lures).

Northern pike (Esox lucius): This big cousin of the pickerel is the largest predator species suitable for the farm pond. It's not generally recommended for such small bodies of water, but some freshwater aquaculturists in the northern states have had success with pike, and it's a standard choice of pond fish cuiturists in Europe. Keep in mind, though, that to sustain reproduction of pike, the pond must have a marshy area that can be flooded in the early spring.

Walleye (Stiaostedion vitreum): Few freshwater fishes can rival the flavor of the walleye. However, this species will thrive only in larger ponds . . . and unless the body of water has a sizable stream flowing into it or an upwelling of water through the bottom, reproduction by the walleye is out of the question. Other factors include the walleye's requirement for cool water and its voracious appetite for fish (more than can be provided by bluegills alone, so you'll also need to stock a forage species).

PANFISH

Sunfish: Surprisingly few fishes other than the sunfishes and their relatives show promise for filling the bluegill's niche in the traditional farm pond community. The redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) is a giant among the sunfishes, growing faster and reaching larger sizes than the bluegill. Unlike the rest of its kin, the redear does not tend to become overpopulated in pond environments. On the one hand, this low reproductive capacity is an advantage . . . but it also means that this species doesn't provide adequate forage for bass. Many anglers fault the redear for not feeding at the surface, too, since that limits the methods by which it can be caught. For these reasons, the redear is usually stocked together with the bluegill.

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