Pond and Lake Management

The resources provided on this website should help you plan and manage your pond for years of success. A pond that consistently produces good fishing is a result of proper construction, stocking, and management. That is why the three golden rules of pond management are:

• Build it right!
• Stock it right!
• Fish it right!

You must clearly define your objectives in the beginning. Ask yourself, “How will I use the pond and what type of fishing do I want to have?” Establishing objectives will help you properly design the pond and create an effective management plan.

Not all objectives are possible in a single pond. For example, if you want to raise trophy bream, chances are you will not be able to grow many big bass, too. Landowners with multiple ponds may consider applying different management plans on different ponds.

After the pond is completed, success or failure depends on using practices to establish and maintain good fish populations. Proper stocking with the correct species and numbers of fish, stocking at the proper time of year, balancing harvest, managing water quality, and controlling aquatic weeds are basics you should understand.

Follow the links above, watch the management videos, and visit the additional resources provided. Finally, have fun and enjoy your private fishing paradise!

For a printed publication containing the information presented here, contact your county MSU Extension office and request Publication 1428 Managing Mississippi Ponds and Small Lakes: A Landowner's Guide.