FATHEAD MINNOWS  (Pimephales promelas)

FATHEAD MINNOWS FOR FORAGE FISH

Forage fish are stocked in recreational fishing ponds as food for largemouth bass.Studdy has shown that forage fish was necessary to produce high-quality bass. There are two situations in which stocking fathead minnows is appropriate. Adding fathead minnows is a  recommended practice when stocking new or renovated ponds or ponds from which the fish population has been eliminated. Forage fish enhances the growth of bass and can improve their survival through the winter, which is particularly important for young-of-the-year bass.  Periodic additions of forage fish such as fathead minnows should increase bass grow and production. Fathead minnows is best stock with the bluegill in new pond or lake. The fathead minnows is the only forage fish wish no down side when stocking. They don't compete with your bass for food, they reproduces prolifically and frequently in ponds and it is essential that forage fish be small enough to serve as prey for the desired sport fish. Becase of there small size as aduct they will need to be added periodic to you pond. Suttle Fish Farm recommends 1,000 fathead per surfice acre for new pond or lake but can be stocked as hight as 10,000 per acre for trofic bass ponds. They are also an excellent fish bait for white perch.The can be added to existing ponds.

Farhead Minnows

The fathead minnow is a fresh water fish, native to most states. They generally reach 2 to 3 inches in length and have a life span of two to three years.  The Fathead Minnow is very prolific. Spawning begins when the water temperature reaches 60 degress fahrenheitand repeats monthly until water cools down in the fall. They lay between 2 to 500 eggs per spawn. The female deposits eggs into the nest or nesting spots and after fertilization the male takes over and guards it. The fathead minnow eggs hatch in about five days. These minnows get to a length of two to three inches.


Note: The fathead minnows is the only forage fish with no disavange when added to a new or existing pond. They are an excellent investment when stocking in a new pond. Our clients have really seen the benefits of these fish.

The term “forage fish” is used to describe species that play a significant role as prey for predators fish.