ponds and lakes
Ref: F05

A pond

Many of the most popular fisheries today are non river fisheries such as reservoirs, lakes and ponds. Generally these stillwater fisheries are stocked with farmed fish, but ponds and lakes linked to streams or rivers will have a natural source of plants and animal life as well. Fish, eels, amphibians and mini-beasts will find their way up quite small channels and leats that lead to ponds and make their home there.

Ponds are man-made and were often created as drinking areas for farm animals. Many rural areas are suffering from pond loss because today the water mains allow farmers to supply water through plastic pipes to troughs in fields where they have stock. This means that ponds have been neglected and allowed to become overgrown and eventually dry up. It is a loss of valuable wildlife habitat.

Cattle drinking pond

Ponds for stocking fish are not a new idea, since the Middle Ages large estates and monasteries have had Stew ponds stocked with fish as a food source to be caught when needed. (There were no deep freezes in those days!) Fish is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins and is one of the most nutritious foods we can eat. The expression Stew pond is still used by fish farmers today to describe ponds for holding fish.

Fishing ponds can be stocked with Trout or a wide variety of Coarse fish, but seldom both together. Trout fishermen traditionally killed their fish to cook and eat, but increasingly release them as a conservation measure.

Fishing Reservoir

Coarse fish are not eaten in the United Kingdom, and coarse fishermen return them to the water. Coarse fish are generally non-fish eating. The most popular species is Carp, but Roach, Rudd, Perch and Tench are all found in still water fisheries.

Smaller ponds include wildlife ponds, which are often created to encourage a wide variety of plant, animal and bird life to an area. You may have a wildlife or dipping pond at your school. In gardens small ornamental ponds are dug to display exotic plants or fish, such as Water Lilies or Goldfish.