best cold water fish, for a pond, to eat :)

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theemon

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Jun 14, 2009
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Define "cold". If you can maintain water temps under 65 you can probably keep Brown Trout, which imo will taste better than any of the previously mentioned species. Otherwise I would say Yellow Perch.
well in the summer the temps reach 100+, while at winter it gets well below freezing.

Tilapia are generally considered the most efficient food fish as far as turning food mass into body mass in a short period of time....start with some small ones in the spring, power feed them all summer, and have a fall fish fry..
first, id like to keep the fish in the pond year round, and a stable population n whatnot. also, i think tilpia are out because of the the cold winters correct? someone please correct me if im wrong, but from a quick google search they say 70f for tilpia.

one issue i think would be the dechlorinator used in the pond. .
you my dear think to much like a tank person. this will be an actual pond.

Ohio is not always a "cold water" state. I live in PA (similar climate) and last summer when we were camping, there were scores of dead carp in the river we camp near. The water was like bath water - and that's a flowing system that theoretically should have more O2. I can only imagine how O2 depleted a closed system would be in those conditions (unless it was really deep).

All the Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass and various sunfish we caught were none the worse for wear however. Maybe investigate those species (although Smallmouth and Rock Bass are usually riverine species). Largemouth Bass can manage at a wide variety of temps as well.
correct, the summer months get really hot. i personally would like tilpia, but i think thats out, so 2nd option i was thinking of was native blue gill and large mouth bass
 

loser

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Largemouth are not very delicious. I 2nd the trout if the pond stays cold enough to support them, otherwise catfish are probably your best bet. Perch, as mentioned earlier, are also yummy.
 

PSUsam11

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i'm from pa and there is no way a pond is going to stay cool enough for trout... my uncle has a large pond that is more than 15 feet deep and it doesn't even stay cold enough. I think a pan fish like blue gill or crappie would be the easiest. they will eat anything and are pretty hardy not to mention I think they are delicious :)
 

PSUsam11

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also if your pond is big enough for bass they will be able to keep your blue gill population in check so I think that would be ideal.
 

OrQidz

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Why not a salt water pool? Must be some tasty marine fish that could fit the bill! (joking of course!)
 

rufioman

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Aug 16, 2010
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Northern Pike and Bluegill.

Pike eats Bluegill

You eats Pike.

Edit: P.S.
Start a worm farm next to the pond.
Feed worms your veggie scraps.
toss worms into pond, to feed Bluegill.
ahahaha, so true!
 

SubRosa

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Jul 3, 2009
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well in the summer the temps reach 100+, while at winter it gets well below freezing.


first, id like to keep the fish in the pond year round, and a stable population n whatnot. also, i think tilpia are out because of the the cold winters correct? someone please correct me if im wrong, but from a quick google search they say 70f for tilpia.

you my dear think to much like a tank person. this will be an actual pond.


correct, the summer months get really hot. i personally would like tilpia, but i think thats out, so 2nd option i was thinking of was native blue gill and large mouth bass
I was referring to actual water temps, not the air temps. Factors such as depth, sun exposure, shade, etc can all greatly affect temps achieved.
 

TheFishBoss97

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go vegetarian like me:D
 
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