Posted: Tuesday, July 04, 2023
Author: Vinny Delgado, Partner, Ranch Sales | Licensed in MT
Dear Vinny,
I am considering purchasing a property in Southwestern Montana with some water features, including three ponds. The previous owner had stocked the ponds when he first purchased the property but has since neglected to take care of them. I intend to buy the property to restore these ponds for my friends and family to enjoy, but I need to figure out where to start. Who should be my first call after closing on the property? And how much time can I enjoy fishing these ponds with my grandkids?
- Fishing in the Future
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!
