Buying fish - anyone know???

[Bigguyone1]

I am wondering if anyone knows the state law on stocking your own pond and also where a person would be able to buy fish from.

Has anyone ever considered getting a group of 30 people or so together to buy the land and build a private 400-500 acre pond? There are places in the state where sagebrush land is very inexpensive...and building the structure of the lake as the group sees most fit for the species could be a very good time - talk about BIG kids in a sandbox with BIG toys....

I would like to see some bigger largemouth and pike in the state (more likely to be caught). A lake of 500 acres with feeders and plenty of forage (perch, bluegill, shad, etc) could make for a very fun time....if you got 50 guys together you could consider a 1000ac lake or even buy a ranch with an existing large irrigation reservoir and just expand it to what is wanted.

Interested to hear the feedback on this idea and if anyone has tried or considered it.

[line_dangler]

[font "Times New Roman"][#000000]There are thousands of ponds and lakes in Utah. They are open for everyone to fish too. Don't need to build any structure just drop and dangle your line. [] Just my opinion.[:/]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]A lot of the information you need is probably available through Utah DWR. I suggest you contact them to see if they have something online or in a booklet about establishing private fishing ponds.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Ditto for buying fish. With all of the current worries about exotic fish diseases, I am sure there are restrictions on the stocking of fish anywhere in Utah without proper certification.[/#0000ff]
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[PaHnTr760]

How can the DWR have any say in one stocking a private pond?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]DWR is the agency in charge of regulating which species of fish are stocked in the state...especially game fish. Without regulation and management, there could be widespread import of exotic species potentially harmful to Utah species...and it only takes one infected fish to bring in deadly diseases that could wipe out Utah's fisheries. It is vital that SOMEBODY is watching out for us in those areas. It is not about doing whatever you want on your own property if it can ruin fishing for everybody else. That is how we got whirling disease in our trout...from the former governor's (Leavitt) family that paid no attention to inspection standards and brought in diseased trout for their hatcheries. That resulted in having to close other hatcheries and destroy millions of trout fry. And some waters will forever be infected.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]VHS is a more recent disease that is spreading around the country but has not reached Utah yet...thanks to proactive controls by DWR. It affects all species and is almost 100 percent fatal. People who try to get around the controls will probably someday be instrumental in destroying Utah's fishing for everybody.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]That's why DWR has a say in private stocking.[/#0000ff]
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[Tapajos]

The process from my understanding is pretty simple but time consuming. I havent checked within the last few months but if my memory serves me right this is what happens.

When you either have or buy the land. You then have to put in to get a permit to have the pond dug. They send out an engineer to insure that it meets code(whatever that is) he makes sure that the water wont be leaking into the drinking supply, that the dam(if you have one wont break) blah blah blah.

Then you have to put in a request for the fish. I dont think you can buy them from the state. But I do know where you can get them. They come out AGAIN and make sure that the fish wont get into any other water drainages where they shouldnt be. And if everything is ok they issue you a "native species permit" which allows you to go out and buy the fish to put into your pond.

Just like an aquarium you would cycle the pond and would want to change the water regularly (25% weekly) in order to keep your nitrate/nitrite and ammonia levels low. For ideal health and growth.

There are a whole bunch of logistical challenges to building a pond too. It takes a while. There are actualy companies around the country that will just fly out somewhere to build your pond. But it seems like fun. I imagine that if you built it out in the nw corner of the state grouse creek area etc. you could wrangle up 1000 acres for under 500k. 500 acres for the pond and the other 500 for cabins which you could split up into 50 lots of 10 or something. fun to day dream a bit.
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[humpy]

I like the idea, it sounds like fun. I think buying the water rights may be harder than buying the land. If you want a healthy pond, it will take alot of clean water. []

Humpy
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[Bigguyone1]

I do know a couple of people that have built smaller ponds 20-40 acres and one that is abotu 120 acres. They have used well water for the watering of the pond. I think it is a viable option to build a 800-1000 ac pond as mentioned above possibly with a couple cabins and a buyin fee.
I am really considering this or just moving to Texas or CA but really wanna be a place to have Pike as well...so that is the issue. Is there anyone that would really consider joining a private fishing club that would build a pond. If you had 50 people would only be about 20k each and then about 500-1000/yr. Really about the same cost of a decent boat and it would probably not depreciate.....and for sure would have BIGGER fish than you would catch in an average day on a public water in UT.

[HookJaw_Brimhall]

I have thought about buying some fish too. Not for a private pond but for a big Aquarium like the one in Cabelas.
I think it would be awesome to have a huge aquarium in a house with one of every trout species in it. That's my dream, I'm sure it will never happen, but it would be kinda cool.[]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I have sent emails to a couple of guys I know in DWR, asking for links to anything online or titles of publications they may have on the subject.[/#0000ff]
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[packfish]

The only thing I would add to this is that the DWR will tell you where you can get the fish, you just don't go out and get them. The place has to be certified OK from them. I have a buddy who buys brown trout for his pond and has gone thru this whole ordeal.
He gets his from a guy in or around Brigham City.




quote Tapajos]The process from my understanding is pretty simple but time consuming. I havent checked within the last few months but if my memory serves me right this is what happens.

When you either have or buy the land. You then have to put in to get a permit to have the pond dug. They send out an engineer to insure that it meets code(whatever that is) he makes sure that the water wont be leaking into the drinking supply, that the dam(if you have one wont break) blah blah blah.

Then you have to put in a request for the fish. I dont think you can buy them from the state. But I do know where you can get them. They come out AGAIN and make sure that the fish wont get into any other water drainages where they shouldnt be. And if everything is ok they issue you a "native species permit" which allows you to go out and buy the fish to put into your pond.

Just like an aquarium you would cycle the pond and would want to change the water regularly (25% weekly) in order to keep your nitrate/nitrite and ammonia levels low. For ideal health and growth.

There are a whole bunch of logistical challenges to building a pond too. It takes a while. There are actualy companies around the country that will just fly out somewhere to build your pond. But it seems like fun. I imagine that if you built it out in the nw corner of the state grouse creek area etc. you could wrangle up 1000 acres for under 500k. 500 acres for the pond and the other 500 for cabins which you could split up into 50 lots of 10 or something. fun to day dream a bit.[/quote]
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[Therapist]

Just a small note on stocking fish. Whirling Disease, that scourge of the Rainbow and several other trout species, was introduced to the state's waters from a private hatchery owned and operated by the Levitt family, former Governor Levitt's brother. They brought in infected fish from Colorado, from a NON CERTIFIED hatchery and we now have the mess with that. DWR now requires that all moves of fish from one water to another be regulated and that the fish be certified disease free. Most of the SMB in that the state has stocked came from fish that were caught by Utah BASS Federation at Flaming Gorge, moved to the ponds at Wahweep, then the fry were stocked elsewhere. That project would not be possible today because of the infection of the SMB in the Gorge with a tapeworm. Not a danger to us, but the regs would not allow it today.

Stocking a private pond is possible, but you have to follow the regs and have DWR involved.

[macscabin]

I would have to agree the water rights needed would be very costly. Probrably more than the land and they are not easy to get. Most people think they can just did and get all the water they want. This is not so in our desert state.
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[kochanut]

contact the SLC branch of the EPA and dept. of the interior. the us gov. will pay for you to make and stock your own pond if you follow certain rules, which are not hard.
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[Bigguyone1]

Kochanut - that is definitely news to know and check into.

SO AT THIS POINT HOW MANY PEOPLE ON THE BOARD DO YOU THINK WOULD BE INTERESTED IN A 500 AC PRIVATE POND? FISHED A 400AC LAKE TODAY IN COLORADO AND IT IS PRODUCING 6LBS LARGIES AND 40"+ PIKE. THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN TO KNOW YOU ARE AN OWNER AND MINIMAL FISHING PRESSURE AND NO WAKEBOARDERS!!!!

[bassrods]

I mite but it would depend on what fish would be put in the pond, and cost and location...I know of maybe two or three locations...
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