https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish.atomkeystonehatcheries.com - Gamefish2026-07-30T14:15:04-05:00keystonehatcheries.comhttps://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-crappie2026-07-30T14:15:04-05:002026-07-30T14:16:31-05:00Hybrid CrappieMike RobinsonThe Hybrid Crappie is a good compromise for pond owners that want to have crappie, but don't want to take the overpopulation risks that are associated with them.

The most common crappie available for stocking is the Black Crappie, but they are a boom and bust species that are unpredictable in ponds and smaller lakes. A possible solution is the Hybrid Crappie, which is not sterile, but it has a greatly reduced reproductive potential. If the pond also has Largemouth Bass, they should be able to control the crappie numbers without much trouble.

Hybrid Crappie Advice:

Like the Black Crappie, Hybrid Crappie find plenty of natural food, such as zooplankton, insect larvae, snails, and leech, but adults feed mainly on small fish, and will not take fish pellets. If you would like to stock Hybrid Crappie, we recommend up to 200 per Surface Acre for an initial stocking. They are best stocked in ponds and lakes with a Largemouth Bass population.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

[Request a Quote](/content/pages/request-a-quote "Request a Fish Stocking Quote"/index.html) [Custom Fish Stocking Recommendations](/content/blogs/gamefish/custom-fish-stocking-recommendations "Custom Fish Stocking Recommendations"/index.html) If you know what you want to stock, complete the form on this page.

[Stocking Recommendations](/content/pages/fish-stocking-recommendations "Fish Stocking Recommendations"/index.html) [Request a Fish Stocking Quote](/content/pages/request-a-quote "Request a Fish Stocking Quote"/index.html) If you are unsure what to stock, complete the questionnaire on this page.

[RETURN TO LIVE GAMEFISH AND STOCKING INFO](/content/blogs/gamefish/live-gamefish-and-stocking-info "Live Gamefish and Stocking Info"/index.html)

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass-stunting2026-01-20T07:00:00-06:002026-01-20T09:01:27-06:00Largemouth Bass StuntingMike RobinsonA common misconception is that Bluegill stunting is the biggest problem with your average midwestern pond fish population.  Once upon a time I believed that myself, and it’s part of the reason the first species we raised at Keystone Hatcheries was Hybrid Bluegill.  However, it did not take long to realize that a far more common issue is Largemouth Bass stunting.

Largemouth Bass are the top of the food chain in your average pond, and they are not fussy about spawning habitat.  So, if the fisherman is not reducing their numbers thru harvesting, then it does not take long for them to reduce their available food supply and begin to stunt.  In a typical case you will notice that there are many bass somewhere in the 10 to 15-inch size range, but few that are larger.  In severe cases you will notice that the most abundant size class has skinny bodies, but the bigger ones are thick and healthy.  Either way, the solutions are the same.

The first thing you want to do with a stunted bass population is to harvest the most abundant size class.  Think of a stunted bass population as a bell curve, with an abundant amount of the stunted size class in the middle, at the top of the curve, and less of the smaller and larger size classes as you move away from the top in either direction.  What you want to do is catch and keep the most abundant size class but throw back the largest and smallest.  This in effect pushes down on the curve and diversifies your fish population.  How many should you harvest?  Well, this is just about impossible to say, but you can take out a surprising amount.  Commonly people in the Midwest will remove 50 bass per surface acre annually, and still have an abundant population!  In general, you want to keep harvesting until you notice that you are catching less of the of stunted bass and relatively more of the larger size class.  So, for instance, if initially only 1 in 10 bass was 15" plus, keep catching and removing the stunted ones until the ratio changes to 1 in 5, or less.  The fewer bass that you have in the pond, the bigger that they will grow.

Why will the average size increase?  Think of it this way.  Every pond has a limited amount of food available for the bass.  Generally speaking, if you have 500 bass in a pond, they will grow at rate X.  But if you reduce the population to 250 bass, they will have twice as much food available and will grow roughly twice as fast.  And don’t think this takes years, you can notice a difference in months.

Although nothing takes the place of harvesting stunted bass, there are other things that can help.  The most important is to keep track of what is going on with the forage population.  If you do not have Bluegill in the pond, then the forage fish will likely get wiped out.  Bluegill are the species that stands the best chance of withstanding bass predation, and thereby providing food for them through reproduction.  But a Bluegill population may need to be managed, just like the bass.  What often happens is that the Bluegill will bottleneck right around 5 to 6 inches, which is just slightly too big for the average stunted bass to eat, and slightly too small for the fisherman to want to keep.  However, if you thin the bass population, and their average size increases just a little, then they will be able to prey on the stunted Bluegill and their average size will correspondingly increase as well.  Usually, if you properly manage the bass population, the bass will manage the Bluegill.  See the article Bluegill Stunting for more info on this.

The other thing you can do with forage is to add minnows or shiners.  This is a great short-term boost to the bass population, and they will thank you for it, but it is not a long-term strategy, unless you want to invest in ongoing monthly minnow stockings.  We have customers that don’t mind spending the money, so we stock up to 100 pounds of minnows per surface acre every month, April thru November.  And guess what, the minnows often get wiped out within days of stocking.  But those customers do have huge fish!  We don’t recommend stocking that amount of minnows in most cases, but semi-annual minnow stockings of around 25 lbs per acre can provide a nice boost to the average bass size, and also improve the Bluegill population by temporarily reducing the amount of Bluegill consumed by the bass.

The worst case scenario is when the bass wipe out the Bluegill entirely.  The best way to recover from this is to thin the bass population by as much as you are comfortable with and initiate an aggressive Bluegill restocking effort.  You may need to restock the Bluegill multiple times, along with some minnows to temporarily distract the attention of the bass. If this is the case, speak with a fish biologist to develop a restocking plan, because it is just about impossible to have a trophy Largemouth Bass population without Bluegill.

Another option is to stock top end predators that will help control the bass.  Care must be taken here, otherwise the balance can rapidly swing in the other direction.  Northern Pike, Tiger Muskie or Muskie are efficient predators of bass, and small quantities, like 1 or 2 per acre, will definitely help keep bass in check.  Generally, we recommend not doing this in small ponds, under an acre, because those systems just are not dynamic enough to support large predators.

The last thing to consider is aquatic habitat.  If the pond is filled with weeds, the forage species can have too much protection from the bass.  Ideally, we recommend that you determine if the weeds are good/native or bad/invasive/exotic species.  If they are good/native, you should spot treat, or physically remove a portion, to create areas in the pond where bass can get at the food.  DO NOT ELIMINATE ALL BENEFICIAL WEEDS, as this will swing the pendulum too far in the other direction.  If you find that the weeds are bad/ invasive/exotic, we recommend eliminating them, and usually a native beneficial species will fill in to take their place.

On the other hand, if there are not enough weeds, and little structure for hiding spots, then the forage species don’t stand a chance and will be decimated in short order.  We commonly see this in ponds that are indiscriminately treated for weeds and algae on a regular basis, or ponds with a significant common or grass carp population.

So, what it all comes down to is finding that nice balance.  If you keep the weeds and bass in check, the forage population should flourish, thus creating a fast growing Bass population.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/what-should-i-stock-five-steps-to-a-quality-fish-stocking-recommendation2026-01-20T06:30:00-06:002026-01-20T06:52:48-06:00What should I stock? Five steps to a quality fish stocking recommendation.Mike RobinsonHow should you go about stocking an existing pond or lake? If the pond is empty, or if you can tell us with some certainty what is currently in it, then please complete our [Fish Stocking Recommendations](/content/pages/fish-stocking-recommendations "Fish Stocking Recommendations"/index.html) form.  But if you are not sure what the fish population is, read on to learn the options.  This article lays out a 5-step plan to guide the way.

Reaching out to us for a stocking recommendation is a great first step, because let’s face it, no one is born with the knowledge of what to stock to improve a fish population. But we also have no way of knowing what is going on in a pond/lake without data/info. Also, if you ask 5 fish biologists for a stocking plan, you will likely get 5 different plans.  There is not 1 right way to stock a pond, so be careful about picking bits and pieces from different plans, because they could conflict.

If reaching out to a fish biologist is step one, gathering and conveying info on your current fish population is step two. As discussed above, the simple truth is that it is virtually impossible to make any decent stocking recommendations without knowing the basic details of the current fish population.  So, how do you gather details on your current fish population? There are 2 basic ways. The first is hiring a professional to do it for you. Depending on the logistics, expect to pay anywhere from $1.5 to $4K for this. The second is to get the info yourself through fishing and careful observations.

What we really need to know is what species are present, what’s their size range and how abundant are they. If you want to gather this information yourself, start fishing and give us your results.  We have a Fish Creel Survey form that you can use to organize your data. Remember, one day fishing doesn't paint a complete picture, you need to do this multiple times over a span of time. If you don’t want to do this yourself, you can ask a trustworthy fisherman to do it for you. There are many people out there that would jump at the opportunity to fish a pond for free!

There is one thing worse than no info at all, and that is bad info. Many times I have had people tell me about their stunted bluegill population that will not grow, despite what they do or stock. After considering everything they tell me, the facts just don’t add up, and I finally ask for them to send a photo.  Very often they turn out to be Green Sunfish, or some sort of stunted hybrid, which completely changes the recommendations. This makes step three: “verify accuracy of information”.

Another form of information accuracy is exaggerated fish lengths and weights. Most people cannot tell the length of a fish by looking at it. Many people would look at a 5 inch bluegill and say that it is 3 inches, and there are significant management differences between the two. When measuring fish, they must be laid out on a ruler of some sort and measured from tip of nose to tip of tail. Likewise, please don’t report 5 pound Largemouth Bass unless you have actually put it on an accurate fish scale and recorded the weight.

Step four is State Your Goals, in order. Let’s say you have 3 goals: to grow trophy bass within 5 years, to have them in abundance so that you can easily catch them, and to set up a self sustaining ecosystem so that you do not have to spend money on feeding. Well, if those were your 3 goals, I would ask you to list them in order of importance, because you could probably have 2, but not all 3.  In other words, sometimes goals are contradictory or incompatible, so if we know which are most important, we can tailor our recommendations accordingly.

Speaking of money, setting out a budget is step five. What good is a stocking plan if it costs 5 times more than you are willing or able to spend? If we know your budget, then we can consider your goals (in order) and provide you with a plan that best allocates your available resources.

Once we have that information, the ball is in our court and we will turn around the best recommendation that we can in little time. So here in review are those 5 steps:

Step 1: Reach out to a fish biologist that you trust to make a recommendation.  Once you find a plan you like, stick with that one exclusively.

Step 2: Gather and convey fish population information, or hire a professional to do it for you.

Step 3: Make sure the information is accurate. Ask for a creel survey form if you are doing this yourself. Send in photos of fish you cannot 100% ID.

Step 4: List your goals, in order.

Step 5: Give a realistic maximum budget so we can best allocate your resources.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/quality-vs-cheap-fish-pellets-what-s-the-difference2025-03-07T10:24:46-06:002025-03-07T10:24:49-06:00Quality vs Cheap Fish Pellets, What’s the Difference?Mike RobinsonKeystone Hatcheries recently made the switch to Ziegler Brothers Fish Pellets, and the results have been outstanding!We have noticed significantly greater growth rates and reduced fish food waste in tanks and ponds.The question is, what’s the difference between these pellets and others on the market?It comes down to type, quality and quantity of the different ingredients.For example, in our previous fish food they gradually decreased the percentage of fishmeal, which is ideal in a high protein diet, and increased other less palatable sources.These cheaper ingredients kept the feed more affordable, but there were many side effects.

Another example is that different species of fish require different compositions of protein, fats and fiber.Many of the pond pellets available at big box stores are not well suited to feed all pond fish, even though they market them that way.The chart below shows the 8 different sizes/types of Gamefish food we offer, and which are best suited for what you are feeding:

You can find all these fish foods, available in both resealable small bags and large bulk bags, [**AT THIS LINK**](/content/collections/fish/gamefish-pellets "Keystone Hatcheries Gamefish Pellets"/index.html).You can also pick up the feed at our store in Richmond, IL and save the shipping fee.

Here are some benefits of Ziegler Brothers Fish Pellets over the competition:

·Enhanced Growth Rates - These pellets are scientifically formulated with a balance of proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals to support healthy fish growth. When fish receive the right amount of protein and essential nutrients, they have the energy they need for healthy muscle development and overall body growth. This results in larger, healthier fish that contribute to a stronger population.

·Improved Reproduction - Well-fed fish have higher fertility rates and stronger egg development.This leads to an increase in your overall population.

·Increased Survival Rates – When fish are fed a proper diet and are growing rapidly, they will be better able to survive long term.

·Optimized Feed Conversion and Reduced Waste – When fish are fed a high quality pellet that they can easily digest, two things happen.First, they utilize a very high percentage of what they consume, putting that energy towards growth.Second, because they digest and utilize the feed so well, there is very little left over as waste, keeping your pond cleaner.

·Promotes Heathier Immune Systems - Fish that are well-nourished are more resilient to disease, stress, and environmental changes. A strong immune system enables your fish to thrive in diverse conditions, whether it’s during periods of rapid growth, breeding, or when faced with challenges like fluctuating water temperatures.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-striped-bass2025-01-21T09:41:21-06:002026-01-13T12:55:14-06:00Hybrid Striped BassMike RobinsonThe Hybrid Striped Bass is a cross between striped bass and white bass, which makes them sterile. They are aggressive feeders that will readily take high protein fish pellets and feed on other fish, plus absolutely slam fishing bait!

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]]> The Hybrid Striped Bass is a cross between Striped Bass and White Bass, which makes them sterile. They are aggressive feeders that will readily take high protein fish pellets and feed on other fish, plus absolutely slam fishing bait!

Because Hybrid Striped Bass are sterile you do not need to worry about overpopulating, which is a common occurrence with Largemouth Bass.

Hybrid Striped Bass Advice:

Hybrid Stripers are piscivorous, which means they feed primarily on other fish. They are raised on high protein pellets and will continue to take them if offered.

This species is an ideal predator for helping control Gizzard Shad, Black Crappie and other sunfish species. 40 per Surface Acre is a common stocking amount, but you should adjust up or down based on prevalence of other predators and how abundant forage is.

Unlike most species, we primarily handle Hybrid Striped Bass in late spring and summer because they do not handle well in cold water. Unfortunately this hybrid species is not currently permitted to be stocked in Wisconsin.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/live-gamefish-and-stocking-info2025-01-06T12:06:00-06:002026-01-19T10:43:25-06:00Live Gamefish and Stocking InfoMike Robinson .kh-wrap{max-width:1100px;margin:0 auto;padding:0 18px} /\* Hero */ .kh-hero{background:linear-gradient(135deg, #e6f3ef 0%, #d4ebe4 100%);border:1px solid #b8ddd0;border-radius:16px;padding:24px 24px 20px;margin:24px 0} .kh-hero h1{margin:0 0 8px;font-size:32px;line-height:1.2;color:#0f4a3d} .kh-hero h1 span{color:#0b6c53;font-weight:700} .kh-hero p{margin:0;color:#3d5a52;font-size:15px;line-height:1.6} .kh-hero p + p{margin-top:10px} /\* Grid rows */ .kh-row{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:20px;margin:20px 0} .kh-row--3{grid-template-columns:repeat(3, 1fr)} /\* Cards */ .kh-box{background:#fff;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:16px;padding:20px;box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.04);transition:box-shadow .2s ease, border-color .2s ease} .kh-box:hover{box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.07)} .kh-box h3{margin:0 0 8px;font-size:17px;color:#1e293b;line-height:1.3} .kh-box p{margin:0 0 14px;color:#64748b;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6} .kh-list{margin:0;padding-left:18px;color:#475569;font-size:14px;line-height:1.7} .kh-list li{margin:5px 0} .kh-list li strong{color:#334155} /\* Buttons */ .kh-btnrow{display:flex;gap:10px;flex-wrap:wrap} .kh-btn{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;text-decoration:none;background:#0b6c53;color:#fff;padding:11px 18px;border-radius:10px;font-weight:700;font-size:14px;transition:all .15s ease;box-shadow:0 2px 4px rgba(11,108,83,.2)} .kh-btn:hover{background:#095544;transform:translateY(-1px);box-shadow:0 4px 8px rgba(11,108,83,.25)} .kh-btn.secondary{background:#64748b;box-shadow:0 2px 4px rgba(100,116,139,.2)} .kh-btn.secondary:hover{background:#536479} .kh-btn.light{background:#0f766e;box-shadow:0 2px 4px rgba(15,118,110,.2)} .kh-btn.light:hover{background:#0d635c} /\* Notes */ .kh-note{background:linear-gradient(135deg, #fffbeb 0%, #fef3c7 100%);border:1px solid #fcd34d;border-radius:12px;padding:16px 18px;margin:20px 0;color:#92400e} .kh-note strong{color:#78350f} .kh-fine{margin:10px 0 0;color:#64748b;font-size:13px;line-height:1.5} .kh-box .kh-fine{color:#94a3b8} /\* Divider */ .kh-hr{height:1px;background:linear-gradient(90deg, transparent, #e2e8f0, transparent);margin:14px 0} /\* Expanders / Details */ details.kh-details{background:#fff;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:16px;margin:16px 0;box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.04);overflow:hidden} details.kh-details[open]{box-shadow:0 6px 20px rgba(0,0,0,.06)} details.kh-details > summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;padding:18px 20px;font-weight:700;font-size:16px;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;gap:12px;background:#fafbfc;border-bottom:1px solid transparent;transition:background .15s ease} details.kh-details[open] > summary{border-bottom-color:#e2e8f0;background:#f1f5f9} details.kh-details > summary:hover{background:#f1f5f9} details.kh-details > summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none} .kh-summary-hint{font-weight:600;color:#94a3b8;font-size:13px} .kh-caret{width:10px;height:10px;border-right:2px solid #64748b;border-bottom:2px solid #64748b;transform:rotate(45deg);transition:transform .2s ease} details[open] .kh-caret{transform:rotate(-135deg)} .kh-details__content{padding:20px} /\* Chips */ .kh-chips{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:8px;margin-top:12px} .kh-chip{display:inline-block;text-decoration:none;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;background:#f8fafc;border-radius:999px;padding:7px 12px;font-weight:600;font-size:13px;color:#334155;transition:all .15s ease} .kh-chip:hover{background:#0b6c53;color:#fff;border-color:#0b6c53} /\* Fish species grid */ .kh-fish-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill, minmax(180px, 1fr));gap:10px;margin-top:14px} .kh-fish-item{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;text-decoration:none;background:#f8fafc;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:10px;padding:10px 14px;transition:all .15s ease} .kh-fish-item:hover{background:#0b6c53;color:#fff;border-color:#0b6c53} .kh-fish-item:hover .kh-fish-size{color:rgba(255,255,255,.8)} .kh-fish-name{font-weight:600;font-size:14px;color:#1e293b} .kh-fish-item:hover .kh-fish-name{color:#fff} .kh-fish-size{font-size:12px;color:#64748b;margin-left:auto;white-space:nowrap} /\* Section labels */ .kh-section-label{font-size:12px;font-weight:700;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:.5px;color:#94a3b8;margin:20px 0 8px;padding-left:4px} .kh-section-label:first-child{margin-top:0} /\* Responsive */ @media (max-width: 900px){ .kh-row--3{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr} } @media (max-width: 680px){ .kh-row, .kh-row--3{grid-template-columns:1fr} .kh-hero{padding:20px} .kh-hero h1{font-size:26px} .kh-fish-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr} }

Live Gamefish & Stocking Info (WI & IL only)

If you have a pond or lake in Illinois or Wisconsin and want to stock it with quality gamefish, Keystone Hatcheries can help. We can arrange delivery or you can pickup from our store in Richmond, Illinois.

1) Already know what you want to order?

Great — choose an ordering option below.

Fish Sale (Pickup) Stocking Packages Request a Quote

Prices are provided by quote (except Fish Sale + Packages).

2) Not sure what to stock?

Fill out our questionnaire and we'll follow up with stocking recommendations and a quote.

Request Recommendations

If you don't know your current fish population, we can help identify fish from photos or quote an electrofishing survey.

3) Want to learn more?

Click below if you are looking for general information about our hatcheries, general stocking recommendations, or to see a list of the species we carry.

General Info

What Makes Keystone Hatcheries Different?

• High Quality Fish: Being in the fish business for 3 generations with biologists on staff, we have developed techniques and processes that result in the healthiest fish with very high stocking survival rates.
• Reliable Service: We don't make promises we cannot keep. If the availability of a certain size or species is iffy, we will tell you up front. Other companies will make promises and deliver the bad news on the back end. Generally (there are always exceptions) if we give you a quote, we are going to come thru.
• Good Measure: Unfortunately it is common practice in the fish stocking industry to short the customer on weight or count to sell at a lower price. If you buy 100 lbs of fathead minnows, can you tell if you got 80 or 100? As an example of our practices, we load 25 lbs of fathead minnows into a bucket at a time, but we go to 26 lbs instead to make sure the customer gets their weight.

General Fish Stocking Recommendations

[General Fish Stocking Recommendations:](/content/blogs/gamefish/general-fish-stocking-recommendations "General Fish Stocking Recommendations"/index.html) On this page we list basic stocking strategies for ponds in the upper Midwest.

Info on Fish Species

Below is a list of fish that we offer. Click on the Fish Species that you would like to learn more about. Basic biological and stocking information is provided.

| [Black Crappie](/content/blogs/gamefish/black-crappie "Black Crappie"/index.html) | 2-4″, 4-6", 6"+ | | [Bluegill](/content/blogs/gamefish/bluegill "Bluegill"/index.html) | 2-4″, 4-6", 6"+ | | [Brook Trout](/content/blogs/gamefish/brook-trout "Brook Trout"/index.html) | 2-6″, 6-8″, 8-10″, 10-15″ | | [Brown Trout](/content/blogs/gamefish/brown-trout "Brown Trout"/index.html) | 2-6″, 6-8″, 8-10″, 10-15″ | | [Channel Catfish](/content/blogs/gamefish/channel-catfish "Channel Catfish"/index.html) | 4-6", 6-8", 8-12", 12"+ | | [Hybrid Bluegill](/content/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-bluegill "Hybrid Bluegill"/index.html) | 2-4″, 4-6", 6"+ | | [Hybrid Crappie](/content/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-crappie "Hybrid Crappie"/index.html) | 2-4″, 4-6", 6"+ | | [Hybrid Striped Bass](/content/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-striped-bass "Hybrid Striped Bass"/index.html) | 4-5″, 5-7", 7"+ | | [Largemouth Bass](/content/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass "Largemouth Bass"/index.html) | 2-4", 4-6", 6-8", 8"+ | | [Muskellunge](/content/blogs/gamefish/muskellunge "Muskellunge"/index.html) | 10-12" | | [Northern Pike](/content/blogs/gamefish/northern-pike "Northern Pike"/index.html) | 9-12" | | [Pumpkinseeds](/content/blogs/gamefish/pumpkinseed "Pumpkinseeds"/index.html) | 1.5-3″, 3-5" | | [Redear Sunfish](/content/blogs/gamefish/redear-sunfish "Redear Sunfish"/index.html) | 2-4″, 4-6" | | [Rainbow Trout](/content/blogs/gamefish/rainbow-trout "Rainbow Trout"/index.html) | 2-6″, 6-8″, 8-10″, 10-15″, 15″+ | | [Smallmouth Bass](/content/blogs/gamefish/smallmouth-bass "Smallmouth Bass"/index.html) | 2-4", 4-6″, 6-8″ | | [Tiger Muskie](/content/blogs/gamefish/tiger-muskie "Tiger Muskie"/index.html) | 10-12″ | | [Triploid Grass Carp](/content/blogs/gamefish/triploid-grass-carp "Triploid Grass Carp"/index.html) | 8-11" | | [Walleye](/content/blogs/gamefish/walleye "Walleye"/index.html) | 4-6″, 5-7", 6-8″, 8"+ | | [Yellow Perch](/content/blogs/gamefish/yellow-perch "Yellow Perch"/index.html) | 2-4", 4-6", 6"+ | | [Fathead Minnow](/content/blogs/gamefish/fathead-minnow "Fathead Minnow"/index.html) | | | [Golden Shiner](/content/blogs/gamefish/golden-shiner "Golden Shiner"/index.html) | | | Rosy Reds (orange Tuffies) | | | [Tuffies](/content/blogs/gamefish/tuffies "Tuffies"/index.html) | |

Pickup & Delivery

We sell live gamefish and minnows in WI & IL only — no shipping.

• Delivery: Coordinated through our transporter
• Pickup: Fish bagged/boxed with oxygen for transport

Store hours Pond calculator

Contact Us

Fastest way to get pricing is to submit a form — or reach out directly.

Request a Quote

• info@keystonehatcheries.com
• (815) 678-2537

We'll confirm timing, delivery/pickup options, and any requirements.

Permits (Wisconsin)

Wisconsin stockings require a DNR permit or DATCP license — we'll help confirm what you need, this is usually free and easy for most ponds.

WI permit info

Not sure? Submit a quote request and we'll guide you through it.

4th generation Robinson and her big catch!

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/wisconsin-fish-purchases-license-or-permit-required2017-12-18T15:06:00-06:002021-03-22T17:08:21-05:00Wisconsin Fish Purchases - License or Permit RequiredMike RobinsonWisconsin customers need to obtain a DATCP License or DNR Permit in order to stock fish.  But don't worry!  There are some pretty easy options.

The reason that a license or permit is needed in Wisconsin is that it is a public water state, which means that all water in Wisconsin is public.  The only exceptions are licensed fish farms, which creates one of the 3 options below.

So if you want to stock fish in Wisconsin, please do not be discouraged.  Look over the options below and let us know if you have any questions.

Please be aware that you DO NOT NEED ALL 3...only one of the following:

1. DATCP License. One way to comply with Wisconsin regulations is to obtain a Type 1 DATCP Fish Farm License.  This license allows you to stock properly certified fish when you want without a DNR permit.  The downside is that there is a license review and issuing process, plus an annual fee.  For more information, call 608-224-4887, email DATCPfishfarms@wi.gov or visit their WEB PAGE.
2. DNR General Permit. If you do not have a DATCP License and you want to stock fish in Wisconsin, then you need a DNR Permit.  Fortunately, there is a very simple self-certifying permit if your pond is 100% on your personal property (businesses and other entities are not eligible, and neither are ponds that are on more than one private property) and the fish do not have a pathway to swim in or out of the pond.  It is called the Pond Stocking General Permit and you can find a copy HERE.  Complete the permit, send one copy to the DNR, and another to us when you place a fish order, and then you are covered for a year.
3. DNR Fish Stocking Permit. If you do not qualify for the above permit, then there is a more involved permit that Keystone Hatcheries completes for you, along with your fish order.  We will get the info we need from you for the permit when you place the order.  We do charge $10 for this permit, and there is an application process, but we can usually do most of the work for you.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/tuffies2017-02-14T07:23:00-06:002026-01-13T13:19:58-06:00TuffiesMike RobinsonTuffies are Fathead Minnows that are raised in artificial ponds in Arkansas under very controlled conditions. Tuffies are slightly more expensive than regular Fathead Minnows, but in certain situations they may be worth the extra money.

Tuffies Advice:

If you are concerned with introducing any unwanted species along with your minnows, you may want to consider stocking Tuffies, aka Farm-raised Fathead Minnows. Also, if you are stocking minnows when the water is warm, Tuffies can better handle the conditions than regular fathead minnows.

We recommend stocking about 5 to 10 pounds per Surface Acre in new ponds without a predator population. 100 pounds plus may be necessary if you do have predators, especially Largemouth Bass.  See [Fathead Minnows](/content/blogs/gamefish/fathead-minnow "Fathead Minnows"/index.html) for more information.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/rosy-reds-orange-tuffies2017-02-14T07:18:00-06:002026-01-13T13:20:36-06:00Rosy Reds (Orange Tuffies)Mike RobinsonThe Rosy Red is essentially an orange-colored Fathead Minnow. This color variation occurs naturally, but rarely.

Fish farmers in Arkansas have successfully bred a pure strain of these minnows. However, because of their recessive genetic traits, successive generations in your pond may lose some of their coloration.

Rosy Red Advice:

Stocking rates and all other recommendations are identical to those of [Tuffies](/content/blogs/gamefish/tuffies "Tuffies"/index.html): we recommend stocking about 5 to 10 pounds per Surface Acre in new ponds without a predator population.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/golden-shiner2017-02-14T07:15:00-06:002026-01-13T13:19:15-06:00Golden ShinerMike RobinsonThe Golden Shiner is the largest of the forage species, commonly growing over 5” in length. Spawning occurs from June to August over beds of submerged vegetation.

The fish is known as a “mosquito larvae eater.” Its up-turned mouth and surface/midwater feeding behavior ideally suit it for mosquito control.

It is the most expensive of the forage species, but in weedy ponds it is the best suited to thrive.

Golden Shiner Advice:

It is a great forage species for trophy Largemouth Bass ponds because of its size. Think of it this way: a bass could chase down and eat 5 Fathead Minnows or 1 Golden Shiner – this allows the saved energy to go towards growth. Also, larger bass will not waste their time with tiny little minnows, but they will feast on Golden Shiners.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/fathead-minnow2017-02-14T07:12:00-06:002026-01-13T13:17:53-06:00Fathead MinnowMike RobinsonThe Fathead Minnow is the most affordable and durable of the forage species. We are able to stock them in all but the hottest temperatures. It is a small prolific minnow that spawns from the spring until late summer on the underside of nearly any material near the shore.

Fathead Minnow Advice:

Reproduction can be improved by placing any kind of structure in 1 to 3 feet of water. It is very important for the minnows to be able to escape predators while reproducing.

Fathead Minnows eat a wide variety of aquatic organisms, from Mosquito larvae to algae, and they can withstand extremely low oxygen levels. Because of this they can survive and thrive in a wide variety of water conditions. We recommend stocking about 5 to 10 pounds per Surface Acre in new ponds without a forage base. If you have a pond full of Largemouth Bass, or other predators, we recommend 25 to 100 lbs per surface acre, and it may take more than that to establish a population.

In our experience, you will not be able to permanently establish a minnow population in a bass pond.  In those situations, Fathead Minnows are used to boost to the bass growth rates, or protect other stocked fish from predation when stocked together.  We set up stocking programs for many customers at rates of 25 to 100 pounds per surface acre as frequently as once a month, April thru November.  Contact us if you are interested.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/yellow-perch2017-02-14T07:07:00-06:002026-01-13T13:15:13-06:00Yellow PerchMike RobinsonTable fare for the famous Wisconsin “Friday Night Fish Fry”, the Yellow Perch is considered by many the best eating of all fresh water fish, but unfortunately it’s pond reputation does not match this.

The Yellow Perch spawns early in the spring by releasing large ribbons of eggs on submerged structures, such as fallen trees. It is somewhat unpredictable in ponds, sometimes doing well and sometimes dwindling away. The Walleye is a natural predator of the Yellow Perch, so they help keep perch populations under control.

Yellow Perch Advice:

Yellow Perch consume a wide variety of food items, including fish, which makes them both a predator and a prey species.  They will take pellets if trained, but usually prefer natural food.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to maintain a Yellow Perch population in a pond dominated by Largemouth Bass.  If you have Largemouth Bass and also want Yellow Perch, you may need to selectively cull the bass population as outlined in the [Largemouth Bass Stunting](/content/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass-stunting "Largemouth Bass Stunting"/index.html) article, and make sure that there is plenty of forage available for both the bass and the perch.  Perch are tricky this way because they are both predator and prey.

If you choose to go with Yellow Perch, we recommend stocking 200 per Surface Acre for an initial stocking along with a bunch of minnows, and then see how they are doing after a year or two. Supplemental stockings may be necessary, especially if bass are present.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/walleye2017-02-14T07:03:00-06:002026-01-13T13:13:48-06:00WalleyeMike RobinsonWalleye generally prefer large, deep, cool open-water areas with rocky shoals and inlet streams. However, if conditions are right, a certain number of this fish can be maintained in smaller lakes and ponds.

Walleye Advice:

Walleye are bottom dwellers during daytime hours, so lakes and ponds with stagnant summertime bottom water do not provide good habitat. Also, they are among the first to die during low oxygen conditions, so they are not a good choice for shallow nutrient rich ponds that often flirt with fish kills.

At night, they feed predominantly on smaller fish such as bass, perch, minnows, and to a certain extent Bluegills, so a strong forage base is necessary.

Generally, we recommend stocking about 20 per Surface Acre for an initial stocking, and then perhaps 10 per acre every few years, because they are unlikely to reproduce, or more often if harvesting is taking place.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/triploid-grass-carp2017-02-14T06:59:00-06:002026-01-13T13:12:13-06:00Triploid Grass CarpMike RobinsonWhat are Triploid Grass Carp?

Triploid Grass Carp are reproductively sterile fish that feed on aquatic vegetation. They can grow to be very large (50+ pounds), and they will live for many years. See this PDF from MSU Extension for more information on the types of weeds that Triploid Grass Carp will and won’t control.

What will Triploid Grass Carp do for my pond?

Triploid Grass Carp, if stocked correctly, can eliminate many types of aquatic vegetation. However, in certain situations they can be detrimental to the pond because they consume beneficial vegetation. Aquatic weeds work as a filter, taking in nutrients from the water column. If the carp consume the weeds, the capacity of the pond to process nutrients is reduced, and as a result algae blooms can occur. Also, the loss of aquatic vegetation is detrimental to fish habitat. For these reasons, we only recommend Triploid Grass Carp in certain situations where beneficial vegetation is not desired.

How do I obtain Triploid Grass Carp?

This exotic species is banned in Wisconsin and regulated by the State of Illinois. It is the State of Illinois policy to not permit the stocking of Triploid Grass Carp in any natural waters. Illinois allows them to be stocked in private ponds, but a permit process must be followed, which we handle for you. Contact Keystone Hatcheries for ordering information.

How many Triploid Grass Carp should I stock?

Unfortunately, partial control of weeds with Triploid Grass Carp is not usually possible. Also, after several years the Triploid Grass Carp become less effective. Stocking rates vary, but in the northern half of Illinois,  the state recommends these numbers

• 20-40% of pond covered with weeds – stock 5 Triploid Grass Carp/surface acre.
• 40-60% of pond covered with weeds – stock 10 Triploid Grass Carp/surface acre.
• Over 60% of pond covered with weeds – stock 15 Triploid Grass Carp/surface acre.

IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell Triploid Grass Carp outside of IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/tiger-muskie2017-02-13T17:14:00-06:002026-01-13T13:09:10-06:00Tiger MuskieMike RobinsonThe Tiger Muskie is commonly stocked in situations where reproduction is not wanted, because this fish will not reproduce.

It grows faster initially than the Muskellunge, although in nature it usually does not ultimately grow as large because it does not live as long. Even so, it can still reach 25 pounds or more under ideal conditions. The fish shown in the photo is only about 5 or 6 years old!

Another desirable characteristic of this species is that it tolerates warmer water than either Northern Pike or Muskellunge.

Tiger Muskie Advice:

We commonly stock this species to control Largemouth Bass in ponds that do not have Northern Pike. Stock 1-2 per Surface Acre.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/smallmouth-bass2017-02-13T17:10:00-06:002026-01-13T13:06:59-06:00Smallmouth BassMike RobinsonAlthough the Smallmouth Bass is very popular with fishermen, it is not always the best choice for shallow lakes or ponds. This species requires cool water temperatures for good growth, and normally has a hard time competing for food with the more aggressive Largemouth Bass. Stone quarry-type ponds with a strong forage base normally provide good Smallmouth Bass habitat because of their deep cool waters and rocky substrate.

Smallmouth Bass Fish Advice:

Smallmouth Bass feed on much the same thing as Largemouth Bass, and generally only take pellets if trained at a hatchery.  If there is natural food present, they probably will not take pellets at all.

If there are no Largemouth Bass present, we recommend stocking approximately 50 to 100 per Surface Acre.  If you do have Largemouth Bass, stock a smaller quantity, like 25 per Surface Acre, and see what happens.  They will likely be a novelty at best in a pond dominated by Largemouth Bass.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/rainbow-trout2017-02-13T17:06:00-06:002026-01-13T13:05:28-06:00Rainbow TroutMike RobinsonRainbow Trout are great fish to stock if you plan on ice fishing. Keep every trout you catch for dinner though, because they generally will not live through the summer. Sustained temperatures over 72°F will prove fatal. Many ponds and lakes do have bottom water below 72°F through the summer, but often there is an oxygen depletion, which renders this cool water useless. Some deep rock quarry ponds can hold trout through the year, as well as ponds fed by cold flowing spring water.

Rainbow Trout Advice:

Stocking rates vary greatly based on available food and oxygen levels, but 50 pounds of trout per acre is usually no problem for a supplemental fall, winter, spring stocking.  If you have a unique trout pond that holds them throughout the year, please contact one of our biologists for custom stocking recommendations.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass2017-02-13T17:06:00-06:002026-01-13T12:57:35-06:00Largemouth BassMike RobinsonThe Largemouth Bass is one of the fish most sought after by anglers, and is also very well suited for stocking in most mid-western ponds.

If Largemouth Bass are provided with an adequate food supply, you can expect tremendous growth rates.

Largemouth Bass Advice:

Fish, crayfish, frogs, and large insects make up their diet.  They will take high protein pellets if they are trained at about 2" in size, but you generally cannot train them at advanced sizes.

This species is commonly used to control populations of Bluegill in ponds and lakes by stocking approximately 50 to 100 per Surface Acre. We recommend less than that (about 25 to 50 per Surface Acre) in Hybrid Bluegill ponds.

Largemouth Bass will reproduce in most ponds and usually will not control their own population if stocked alone. This can lead to stunting and is very difficult to correct. By stocking Hybrid Bluegill or regular Bluegill at our recommended rates, you can usually achieve a natural balance between predator and prey, but occasional harvest of the most abundant size class may be necessary.  See this [Largemouth Bass Stunting](/content/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass-stunting "Largemouth Bass Stunting"/index.html) article for details.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/redear-sunfish2017-02-13T17:04:00-06:002026-07-30T08:20:24-05:00Redear SunfishMike Robinson

The Redear Sunfish is a popular choice for pond stockings because it can grow to a large size, it tends not to overpopulate, and it eats snails, which are the intermediate host of several fish parasites. However, they are not native to Wisconsin, and severe winters in the upper Midwest may kill them in certain water bodies.

Redear Sunfish Advice:

We generally only stock this species in ponds and lakes that have deeper basins that will prevent extremely cold winter water temperatures, which commonly occur in small shallow ponds. Also, Redear Sunfish tend to do best in water bodies with vegetated shorelines and clear water, probably because this is preferred environment for its primary food sources, which is insect larvae & snails.

When stocking to control snails, we introduce as many as 500 per surface acre in the spring. When stocking to add diversity to a water-body, 100 per surface acre is a more typical amount.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/pumpkinseed2017-02-13T17:00:00-06:002026-01-13T13:02:02-06:00PumpkinseedMike RobinsonThe Pumpkinseed is a Panfish species closely related to the Redear Sunfish. Its brilliant coloration alone makes it a favorite of many fishermen, but it also yields tasty fillets that rival Bluegills.

Pumpkinseed Advice:

What sets the Pumpkinseed apart from the Bluegill is its ability to eat snails, which are the intermediate hosts of several fish parasites.  Redear Sunfish have traditionally been stocked for this purpose, but they may not survive the severe winters in the upper Midwest, so this makes Pumpkinseed a good alternative.  They may take pellets if natural food is short, but the natural food will always be their preference.

Pumpkinseed are native to all of Wisconsin and most of Illinois, making them a terrific choice for snail control. Bear in mind, however, that Bluegill must also be present to focus the Pumpkinseed’s foraging habits predominantly onto the snails. Therefore, when stocking a new pond, we recommend about 100 Pumpkinseed and 200 Bluegill per surface acre. However, when stocking a pond already established with Bass and Bluegill, you may need more than 100 Pumpkinseed per surface acre.

Finally, the demand for Pumpkinseed is higher than the availability, so you may need to get on a wait list to receive them.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/northern-pike2017-02-13T16:55:00-06:002026-01-13T13:00:04-06:00Northern PikeMike RobinsonThe Northern Pike is one of the largest gamefish in the Midwest. It feeds continuously through the day, which makes it popular with fishermen. This fish can eat fish up to 18 “ long, ducks and even fully grown Muskrats.

Marshes and flooded lowlands generally provide the spawning habitat for Northern Pike; so many ponds and lakes do not have the proper environment for their reproduction.  Caution should be taken when stocking these fish in ponds or lakes with favorable spawning habitat, because overpopulation of Northern Pike can be devastating to a fish population that is unable to support them.

Northern Pike Advice:

We commonly stock Northern Pike in ponds with active reproduction of Largemouth Bass in order to control their numbers.

Because of their territoriality and heavy feeding, only 1-2 per Surface Acre should be stocked.  Also, this species should be avoided entirely in small ponds with favorable spawning habitat.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/muskellunge2017-02-13T16:53:00-06:002026-01-13T12:58:46-06:00MuskellungeMike Robinson

The Muskellunge is a close relative of the Northern Pike and considered the ultimate prize for many fishermen. It prefers large lakes with both deep and shallow basins, along with tributary streams, and it spawns in shallow bays with a muck bottom.

Muskellunge Advice:

Muskellunge can have a positive effect in waters over-populated with perch, bass, and to a very limited extent on Bluegill. Stock 1-2 per Surface Acre in suitable waters void of Northern Pike.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-bluegill2017-02-13T16:45:00-06:002026-07-30T08:22:04-05:00Hybrid BluegillMike RobinsonThe Hybrid Bluegill is a cross between a male Bluegill and a female Green Sunfish, and is sometimes referred to as a Hybrid Sunfish. As a result of the cross, the Hybrid Bluegill is ~80-90% male, and has a reduced reproductive potential, making it an ideal choice for those ponds prone to Bluegill stunting. The down-side is that their lack of reproduction means that Largemouth Bass are likely to run out of food when stocked in conjunction with Hybrid Bluegill.

Hybrid Bluegill Advice:

The Hybrid Bluegill is a voracious feeder, depending mostly on insects, zooplankton and very small fish. They will feed aggressively on fish pellets so you can set up automatic feeders to boost growth rates, but you may need to stock minnows for other fish in the pond that may not be pellet trained.

Generally, we recommend 250-500 Hybrid Bluegill per Surface Acre in ponds 2 acres or smaller for an initial stocking.  You should plan on restocking them every few years because the population will gradually decline due to their reduced reproductive potential.

Before you make the big decision whether to stock Hybrid Bluegill or regular Bluegill, we recommend that you read our article [Bluegill vs Hybrid Bluegill](/content/blogs/gamefish/bluegill-vs-hybrid-bluegill?_pos=1&_sid=bf26e4862&_ss=r "Bluegill vs Hybrid Bluegill"/index.html).  One final note, we don't recommend stocking both regular and hybrid Bluegill, because they will crossbreed, and then who knows what you have.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/channel-catfish2017-02-13T16:24:00-06:002026-01-13T09:00:35-06:00Channel CatfishMike RobinsonIf you'd like to add diversity to your pond without upsetting the natural balance, Channel Catfish can be a good choice. Also, they are relatively inexpensive so you can restock what you catch out annually with minimal cost.

Channel Catfish Advice:

Because their natural spawning habitat is hollowed-out riverbanks, there is very little chance that they will reproduce and overpopulate. If you want them to spawn, which can be risky, you can put a large culvert pipe or other structure on the bottom of the pond.

Channel Catfish are considered omnivorous, which means that they will eat just about anything, and as such they will readily take pellets.  Fertile ponds can handle up to 200 per Surface Acre, but their feeding behavior may cause poor water clarity.  If you want to maintain clear water we recommend that you stock about 25 to 100 per Surface Acre. Also, higher stocking rates can have an impact on the forage population.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/brook-trout2017-02-13T16:15:00-06:002026-01-13T07:32:39-06:00Brook TroutMike Robinson

This is the only native "stream trout" to Wisconsin and Illinois.  It requires slightly cooler water than brown or rainbow trout, so it isn't the most popular for stocking ponds, but most trout fishermen will tell you that it is their favorite because of the beautiful colors and flavor of the fillet.

Brook Trout Advice:

Brook Trout will readily take pellets, but they will also feed on minnows and other small aquatic animals. As mentioned above, they require a little cooler water than browns and rainbows, so these are not for your average pond. But if you want to stock for fall, winter and spring, or if your pond is especially clean and cold, this is an exceptional fish to stock. Expect them to run into trouble when the water temperature rises above 68F.

Stocking rates vary greatly based on available food and oxygen levels, but 25 to 100 pounds of trout per acre is usually no problem for a supplemental fall, winter, spring stocking.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/brown-trout2017-02-13T16:06:00-06:002026-01-13T08:55:44-06:00Brown TroutMike Robinson

Brown Trout are much sought after by anglers. It is an elusive fish, more difficult to catch than Rainbow Trout. Commonly hiding out in the shade, this species can grow to large sizes and put up a real fight! But as with other trout, it cannot handle the the warm summer temperatures of most midwestern ponds.

Brown Trout Advice:

This fish will take pellets, but will also happily feed on minnows and other small fish. It handles about the same temperature ranges as Rainbow Trout, which means it is unlikely to survive summer, except in ponds with a constant flow of spring water, or very deep, like some rock quarries.  However, you can stock trout in the early fall and have them until the following summer. Expect them to run into trouble when the water temperature rises above 72F.

Stocking rates vary greatly based on available food and oxygen levels, but 25 to 100 pounds of trout per acre is usually a good amount.  If you have a unique trout pond that holds them throughout the year, please contact one of our biologists for recommendations.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/bluegill2017-02-13T15:35:00-06:002026-01-13T07:27:04-06:00BluegillMike RobinsonThe Bluegill is a favorite with kids and adults alike, and is probably the best-known member of the sunfish family. The only drawback with this species is its tendency to overpopulate.

You must maintain a stable population of Largemouth Bass to keep the Bluegill in balance (see the [LAREGEMOUTH BASS STUNTING](/content/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass-stunting "Largemouth Bass Stunting"/index.html) article for details). And when you harvest the Bluegill, you should keep the most abundant size class, and throw back most of the biggest ones. (see the [BLUEGILL STUNTING](/content/blogs/gamefish/bluegill-stunting?_pos=1&_sid=922631606&_ss=r "Bluegill Stunting"/index.html) article for details). When this is done, Bluegill can have tremendous growth rates and provide many meals for the fisherman.

Bluegill Advice:

Bluegill feed on a wide variety of organisms, and they will take fish pellets if trained. We recommend stocking 100 to 300 per surface acre for an initial stocking if no Bass are present, or 400 to 1,000 per surface acre if stocked in combination with Bass.  4-6" stocked in the spring will almost certainly spawn that same year, but 2-4" may or may not.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/black-crappie2017-02-13T15:16:00-06:002026-07-30T08:22:30-05:00Black CrappieMike RobinsonBlack Crappie are a favorite species of many fishermen.  Their beautiful coloration and excellent tasting fillets are surely the reason, but their reputation in small ponds is not as good.

Female Black Crappie are able to generate 60,000 eggs/pound of body weight, which lends to their boom or bust nature.  It is common to see them overpopulate in a pond, and then in a few years, they can just about disappear.  In general, the smaller the pond, the less stable their population is likely to be.

Black Crappie Advice:

Generally, we recommend not stocking this fish in smaller ponds because of their unpredictable nature. Small crappie find plenty of natural food, such as zooplankton, insect larvae, snails, and leech, but adult Black Crappie feed mainly on small fish, and will not take fish pellets. If you would like to stock Black Crappie, we recommend up to 200 per Surface Acre for an initial stocking. They are best stocked in large ponds and lakes with a stable Largemouth Bass population. Consider stocking Hybrid Crappie in smaller ponds.

WI & IL Customers only, Sorry, but we do not sell fish outside of WI or IL at this time.

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/types-of-gamefish2017-02-13T14:52:00-06:002017-03-09T10:18:51-06:00Types of GamefishJennifer Fournier[Black Crappie](/content/blogs/gamefish/black-crappie "Black Crappie"/index.html)

Loved by some and hated by others; the unpredictable nature of the Black Crappie is probably the cause of these mixed feelings. Female Black Crappie are able to generate 60,000 eggs/pound

[Bluegill](/content/blogs/gamefish/bluegill "Bluegill"/index.html)

The Bluegill is a favorite with kids and adults alike, and is probably the best-known member of the sunfish family. The only drawback with this species is its tendency to overpopulate.

[Brook Trout](/content/blogs/gamefish/brook-trout "Brook Trout"/index.html)

This is the only native trout to Wisconsin and Illinois.  It requires slightly cooler water than brown or rainbow trout, so it isn't the most popular.  But most trout fishermen will tell you that it is their fav

[Brown Trout](/content/blogs/gamefish/brown-trout "Brown Trout"/index.html)

Brown Trout are much sought after by anglers. It is an elusive fish, more difficult to catch than the Rainbow Trout. Commonly hiding out in the shade, this species can grow to large sizes

[Channel Catfish](/content/blogs/gamefish/channel-catfish "Channel Catfish"/index.html)

If you would like to add diversity to your pond without upsetting the natural balance, Channel Catfish is a safe stocking choice. Because their natural spawning habitat is hollowed-out riverbanks

[Fathead Minnow](/content/blogs/gamefish/fathead-minnow "Fathead Minnow"/index.html)

The Fathead Minnow is the most affordable and durable of the forage species. We are able to stock them in all but the hottest temperatures. It is a small prolific minnow that spawns from the

[Golden Shiner](/content/blogs/gamefish/golden-shiner "Golden Shiner"/index.html)

The Golden Shiner is the largest of the forage species, commonly growing up to over 5” in length. Spawning occurs from June to August over beds of submerged vegetation. The fish is known

[Hybrid Bluegill](/content/blogs/gamefish/hybrid-bluegill "Hybrid Bluegill"/index.html)

The Hybrid Bluegill is a cross between a male Bluegill and a female Green Sunfish, and is sometimes referred to as a Hybrid Sunfish. As a result of the cross, the Hybrid Bluegill is ~80-90% male

[Largemouth Bass](/content/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass "Largemouth Bass"/index.html)

The Largemouth Bass is one of the most sought after by anglers, and is also very well suited for stocking in most mid-western ponds. If Largemouth Bass fish are provided with an adequate food

[Muskellunge](/content/blogs/gamefish/muskellunge "Muskellunge"/index.html)

The Muskellunge is a close relative of the Northern Pike and considered the ultimate prize fish for many fishermen. It prefers large lakes with both deep and shallow basins, along with

[Northern Pike](/content/blogs/gamefish/northern-pike "Northern Pike"/index.html)

The Northern Pike is one of the largest gamefish in the Midwest. It feeds continuously through the day, which makes it popular with fishermen. This fish can eat fish up to 18 “ long, ducks and

[Pumpkinseed](/content/blogs/gamefish/pumpkinseed "Pumpkinseed"/index.html)

The Pumpkinseed is a Panfish species closely related to the Redear Sunfish. Its brilliant coloration alone makes it a favorite of many fishermen, but it also yields tasty fillets that rival Bluegill

[Rainbow Trout](/content/blogs/gamefish/rainbow-trout "Rainbow Trout"/index.html)

Rainbow Trout is a great fish to stock if you plan on ice fishing. Keep every trout you catch for dinner though (see our recipes section!), because they generally will not live through the summer.

[Redear Sunfish](/content/blogs/gamefish/redear-sunfish "Redear Sunfish"/index.html)

The Redear Sunfish is a popular choice for pond stockings because it can grow to a large size, it tends not to overpopulate and it eats snails, which are the intermediate host of several fish parasite

Rosy Red (Orange Tuffies)

The Rosy Red is essentially an orange-colored Fathead Minnow. This color variation occurs naturally, but rarely. Fish farmers in Arkansas have successfully bred a pure strain of these minnows.

[Smallmouth Bass](/content/blogs/gamefish/smallmouth-bass "Smallmouth Bass"/index.html)

Although the Smallmouth Bass is very popular with fishermen, it is not always the best choice for shallow lakes or ponds. This species requires cool water temperatures for good growth

[Tiger Muskie](/content/blogs/gamefish/tiger-muskie "Tiger Muskie"/index.html)

Tiger Muskie: Northern Pike/Muskellunge hybrid The Tiger Muskie is commonly stocked in situations where reproduction is not wanted, because this fish is usually sterile. It grows faster in

[Triploid Grass Carp](/content/blogs/gamefish/triploid-grass-carp "Triploid Grass Carp"/index.html)

What are Triploid Grass Carp? Triploid Grass Carp are reproductively sterile fish that feed on aquatic vegetation. They can grow to be very large (50+ pounds), and they will live for many

[Tuffies](/content/blogs/gamefish/tuffies "Tuffies"/index.html)

If you are concerned with introducing any unwanted species along with your minnows, you may want to consider stocking Tuffies: Farm-raised Fathead Minnows. Tuffies are slightly more expensive

[Walleye](/content/blogs/gamefish/walleye "Walleye"/index.html)

Walleye generally prefer large, deep, cool open-water areas with rocky shoals and inlet streams. However, if conditions are right, a certain number of this fish can be maintained in smaller lakes

[Yellow Perch](/content/blogs/gamefish/yellow-perch "Yellow Perch"/index.html)

Table fare for the famous Wisconsin “Friday Night Fish Fry”, the Yellow Perch is considered by many the best eating of all fresh water fish, but unfortunately it’s pond reputation

]]> https://keystonehatcheries.com/blogs/gamefish/bluegill-vs-hybrid-bluegill2017-02-13T14:40:00-06:002020-02-27T08:29:22-06:00Bluegill vs Hybrid BluegillMike Robinson“Bluegill vs Hybrid Bluegill?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions when stocking a pond, and usually the second question is “which is better?” The answer to both questions is “it depends on the circumstances and preferences.”

Hybrid Bluegill

The Hybrid Bluegill is a cross between a Male Bluegill and a Female Green Sunfish, and is sometimes referred to as a Hybrid Sunfish. As a result of the cross the Hybrid Bluegill is ~80-90% male, giving it a reduced reproductive potential and making it an ideal choice for those ponds prone to Bluegill stunting. Also, when Hybrid Bluegill reproduce in a pond, their offspring is generally not very successful or desirable, which makes it necessary to restock occasionally. When you stock Hybrid Bluegill, you also have to stock a supplemental forage species for the Largemouth Bass, like the Fathead Minnow or Golden Shiner. In a perfect situation, the minnows or shiners will reproduce and provide feed for the bass. However, the establishment of a forage species can be difficult because Hybrid Bluegill readily consume minnow & shiner fry as they hatch and Largemouth Bass readily consume the adults.

Because of the above limitations, we only recommend stocking Hybrid Bluegill in certain situations. Primarily, the pond owner must be willing to restock Hybrid Bluegill, minnows and/or shiners on a regular basis. The amount of fish to restock and the frequency varies with the initial fish population, fishing pressure and amount of cover. Generally, we recommend restocking 30-50% of the Hybrid Bluegill every 3 years, plus replace the amount harvested annually. For the minnows and shiners, 25-50 pounds per acre on an annual or biannual basis is usually adequate. You can tell if minnows need to be restocked by walking the banks on a warm day. If you see minnows but few, if any bass, then you are ok. However, if you see packs of Bass swimming the shoreline and no minnows, then it’s time to restock.

Bluegill

As most people know, because of their strong reproductive potential, the Bluegill has a tendency to overpopulate in ponds. Most ponds have a limited amount of food available for Bluegill, and as a result, the more fish you have, the less that they will grow. In other words, if you have 1,000 Bluegill in a 1-acre pond they will grow at a certain rate. But if you have 10,000 Bluegill in that same pond they will grow 10 times slower, which is the cause of stunting.

In an unmanaged small pond, Bluegill do have a tendency to stunt. They get to a size that is too large for the Bass to eat and too small for the fisherman to keep, and then you have a problem. In order to prevent this from happening, there are 4 things you must do:

1. Maintain a strong population of predators to keep the Bluegill in check. Many people believe that introducing a couple Northern Pike is the solution to this problem, but they can actually make things worse. Large predators, like the Northern Pike or Muskellunge, eat the size of fish that you want to catch – not the size that you want to eliminate. Also, they prefer to feed on long tubular shaped fish like the Largemouth Bass instead of difficult-to-swallow Pan Fish, like the Bluegill. This can actually make the Bluegill stunting problem worse because Largemouth Bass are the main predator of small Bluegills. We usually recommend maintaining about 100 Largemouth Bass per surface acre to help control Bluegill.

2. Manage the fish population by harvesting the most abundant size class of the most abundant fish. If the pond has many 3-5” Bluegill and few Bass, then spend some time removing the 3-5” Bluegill. However, if the pond is loaded with Bass under a pound, and Bluegill are sparse, then harvest some Bass. This may sound like common sense advice, but many people are under the impression that catch & release fishing is always best. If done properly, catch & keep fishing can be a powerful management tool.  See [Largemouth Bass Stunting](/content/blogs/gamefish/largemouth-bass-stunting "Largemouth Bass Stunting"/index.html) for more information on this

3. Do not let aquatic weeds or algae get too thick. Most weeds are actually quite beneficial for ponds because they filter the water, stabilize bottom sediment, and provide tremendous fish habitat. However, certain types of weeds can grow to be exceptionally thick in the summer, giving small Bluegill too many hiding places from the Largemouth Bass. In the case of exotic nuisance weeds like Curly-leaf Pondweed or Eurasian Watermilfoil, we recommend complete elimination followed by replanting with native species. However, with native Pondweed species, Coontail, Elodea and many others, spot treatment with proper chemicals or partial harvesting with weed rakes can be very beneficial.

4. Do not harvest the largest Bluegill in the pond. Having large male Bluegill present inhibits the sexual maturation of other Bluegills. Immature Bluegills grow much faster than mature Bluegills because all their energy is going towards growth, and not to the production of reproductive organs. So, if the Bluegill in the pond are kept from becoming sexually mature, they will grow faster. Plus, there will be less reproduction, which will reduce the overall number of Bluegill and thereby increase growth rates because more food is available per fish. See this example of Walnut Lake by the IL DNR for more information on this topic.

When the above steps are taken, Bluegill can have tremendous growth rates, and provide many meals for the fisherman.

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