Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) will no longer offer fish (bass and bluegill) for stocking into private ponds and small lakes.
Due to the high cost of raising and distributing private pond fish, in addition to the need to stock more fish into public waters of the state, the agency has decided to discontinue the private pond stocking program. Current pond fish applicants scheduled to receive largemouth bass in the spring of 2011 will be the last for the program.
Private pond/lake owners wanting fish can purchase them from fish hatcheries located within the state (visit www.tnwildlife.org), or from commercial fish producers that sell fish at many farm and feed stores located in each county. The pond owner can contact a farm/feed store in their county to check on the availability of fish. Pond and lake owners can also contact any TWRA office for assistance in locating a commercial source for fish.
Information about stocking, along with pond and small lake management information can be found at: www.state.tn.us/twra/fish/pond/pondfish.html.
