"It's all about numbers and time," Steve Fender, of Fender's Fish Hatchery, replied to a question from the crowd concerning stocking strategies in new and aging ponds.
Steve is a second-generation fish farmer working from the same piece of land that his father, Dennis Miller, grew up on in Coshocton County, Ohio. "Creek College" is how Dennis affectionately referred to the stream behind his childhood home, and the inspiration for taking on the eventual task of providing a fish stock to the state of Ohio. Established in 1956 from a single pond, some bass and a collection of milk cans, Fender's Fish Hatchery has grown to span three counties and approximately 200 acres of ponds and farmland.
The expansion of the hatchery hasn't changed the family owned and operated nature of the business, however. Steve and his sister, Cheryl, share an equal passion for the venture and continue to grow quality fish and provide unmatched customer service to their clients.
For Steve, it's about more that just selling fish. With the perfect mix of charisma, wit, experience and study, Steve effortlessly connects people and their ponds.
With a crowd nearing standing-room only on March 13, 2024, Steve Fender led a crowd of 60 pond owners through the ins-and-outs of freshwater systems management. This event was hosted by both the Morrow and Richland Soil and Water Conservation Districts at the Headwaters Outdoor Education Center in Mount Gilead, Ohio.
It did not take long for the congest to get to questions Wednesday evening.
"What if I'm not sure what is in my pond..." a guest asked.
"Go fishing!" Steve said with a grin, "Keep a record of what you are catching and then call me. If your bass are too skinny, we'll have to thin them out, if they are big, but not biting, we'll have to add a predator."
Steve continued, "I want to make sure your pond is set up for balance. The proper amount of predators, the proper amount of prey and the proper amount of foragers. Now, some of those fish might fill multiple roles, but we want the food chain to do the work of finding stability."
The conversation then turned to controlling vegetation.
"Go with tilapia, stocked at 15-20lbs per acre... for instant gratification," Steve explained, "but you'll need to stock amurs for longevity, about 8-12 fish per acre should keep you and the pond happy."
While tilapia are effective, and prolific (females spawn every 17 days in ideal conditions), they are a tropical fish, therefore do not survive in water temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. These fish will not live through an Ohio winter. Amurs, on the other hand, require a few years to mature in the water, but will keep the vegetation in your pond at bay for their lifespan of 18-20 years.
Erosion and deposition became another point of discussion.
"Cattails are my recommendation to limit shore erosion" Steve admitted.
If the concern is in the basin of the pond be sure to know whether your are looking at sediment or organic material.
Sediment needs to excavated after a proper draining of the water. Steve remarks, "Dredging a pond with water in it is a lot like eating soup with a fork."
Organic material can be dealt with is a simpler, and cheaper, way. Steve recommends Nature's Pond Conditioner by Koenders. This is a fish-safe liquid treatment that refreshes positive bacteria colonies (bacteria's that clean up organic material) in your pond, rather than relying on chemicals.
Finally, Steve ended the night by giving his first three steps to installing a new water feature on your property, "Call 811 to check for utility lines, find a reputable contractor that has done the work before and get ahold of your local Soil and Water Conservation District."
Currently, Morrow Soil and Water Conservation District is partnering with Fender's Fish Hatchery in offering both a Spring Fish Fingerling and Tilapia Sale. These sales are for the convenience of our community members. Fish Fingerlings will be delivered via tank-truck to the Morrow County Fairgrounds on April 4th, 2024, and Tilapia on June 6, 2024, at the Headwater Outdoor Education Center. Orders must be placed and paid for by the deadlines detailed on the Order forms below. Call (419) 946-7923 with questions.
Commenti