Stocking My Ponds - Ask Vinny

Dear Fishing in the Future,

My first call would be to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. If the previous owner did not have a fish stocking permit, you would want to get one, and MT FWP will want to make a site visit to ensure the fish you release don’t have any chance of getting into other watersheds. These permits are 10-year permits and will specify what type of fish you can stock in the ponds. Once the permitting process is complete, I would call a trusted pond consultant who can help you clean the ponds up with additional manual labor or some chemical treatment that won’t harm the fish. As soon as you stock the pond, they will be ready for your grandkids to start enjoying catching them, and as years go by, they will continue to get bigger. Good luck, and happy fishing!