Overabundant bullhead populations produce few bullheads of desirable size. In addition, their presence often limits the success of channel catfish. Back to top Carp, Buffalo and Suckers Introduction of these three fish species into fish ponds is a serious mistake, unless you are only interested in growing fish to eat. They compete directly for food with small bass and bluegill, destroy bass and bluegill habitat, and can only be removed by totally draining or chemically treating the pond. Because of their bottom feeding habits, common carp make the water extremely muddy.
Common carp reproduce quite successfully in ponds.
Although both black and white crappies do well in large lakes, they usually do not do well in small ponds. Once crappies become established, they prey on small bass, compete for food with adult bass and bluegill, and tend to overpopulate. This produces a pond full of small, slow-growing crappies. Back to top Perch Yellow perch are much like crappies in ponds. They are prolific, compete with other game fish, prey upon small bass and bluegill, and usually don't grow well.