Typically Alabama ponds become crowded with small or stunted bass or bream populations or become populated with species like green sunfish, bullhead catfish, shiners, or other unwanted species. The best management option in these situations may be to destroy all fish in the pond and start over but have your pond checked by a qualified fisheries biologist first. Removing or killing the fish population usually is much easier and less expensive if the pond can be drained dry or partially drained and the fish concentrated. Fish will survive in very small pools or puddles away from the main body of water.
Rotenone is a registered aquatic chemical that is used to kill fish.
Rotenone comes in liquid or powder formulations, at a concentration of 5 percent active ingredient. The acre-feet in a particular pond can be calculated by multiplying the surface area in acres times the average depth in feet. Application of rotenone to kill unwanted fish populations. Liquid rotenone also should be diluted with water at a rate of about 10 gallons of water to 1 gallon of rotenone. Apply rotenone evenly over the pond using buckets, sprayers, or pumps.