Farm Pond Management

Introduction   |   Managing Fish   |   Liming   |   Fertilization   |   Feeding Fish   |    Calendar   |   Drawdown   |   Calculations   |   Balance Key

Click here for a printable version of this publication: Farm Pond Management Calendar

Farm pond management, when practiced correctly, is a year-round effort. Although not every management practice is required every month, and some are only needed once every several years, timing is critical to the success of almost all of the standard practices recommended in Mississippi. This calendar may help the pond owner remember when to conduct appropriate management procedures, and, thereby, ensure proper timing and satisfaction from management inputs.

Farm Pond Management Calendar:

• Lime -- October through January
• Fertilization -- mid-February through mid-September
• Chemical weed control -- mid February through June
• Biological weed control (grass carp) -- All year
• Stock bluegills, redear (1"-3") -- October through January then
• Stock bass fingerlings (1"-3") -- May through mid-July
• Stock catfish -- October through March
• Balance analysis -- May through July
• Catfish spawn -- mid-April through mid-July
• Bass spawn -- mid-February through mid-May
• Bluegills spawn -- mid-April through September
• Redear spawn -- April through June
• Feed catfish and bluegills -- March through November
• Winter drawdown -- mid-November through February then
• Refill -- February through mid-March
• Fishing and harvest of all species -- All year
• Construction or renovation -- May through September