Time to Build

The pond should be completed during the fall or early winter. At that time bream and largemouth bass are available from Alabama’s Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries to stock fertilized ponds that are 1/4-acre or larger and that contain no fish. Bream are normally delivered from December through March. Largemouth bass are delivered in May and June. If ponds are completed during the spring and summer, they are likely to fill with water and become contaminated with wild fish before hatchery fish are available. If contamination occurs, the added expense of renovation is necessary before hatchery fish can be stocked. In addition, ponds that are completed in the spring and remain full of water during the summer are likely to become infested with aquatic plants. If ponds are completed during January or February, they may not fill in time to meet stocking deadlines. For these reasons, timing is important when planning a pond.

The information above came from the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division's booklet Sportfish Management in Alabama Ponds, which is available as a PDF.