Good Pond Fishing is No Accident

There are approximately 100,000 ponds (also called stock dams) in South Dakota; 48,000 contain fish. Most ponds are privately owned and are on ranches in western and central South Dakota. Ponds must be managed if they are to provide quality angling. And if properly managed, they can provide memorable fishing year after year. A common misconception is that a pond can have it all, that it can be stocked with any and all fish species and that the fishing will be good for all species. It is more likely that fishing may not be good for any species. In reality, you must decide what you want and choose that management option that best fits your needs. We present the following key and discussion to help you decide the best pond management strategy for you. Start with Number 1 in the key and follow the directions after the answer that best fits you and your pond