Removing Fish from a Pond for Winter Indoor Housing

Challenges of Catching Fish in a Large Pond

A Minnesota pond owner with a 3000-gallon pond stocked with 100 goldfish and 3 koi attempted to move them to an indoor stock tank for winter. After a week of netting, only 7 fish were caught. The pond was partially drained, but the remaining fish hid effectively and were not visible.

Effective Removal Strategies

George advises that complete pond draining and manual netting while inside the pond may be the only way to catch all fish. This is labor-intensive but necessary. Before attempting this, ensure the indoor tank is adequately sized, filtered, and aerated for the large number of fish.

Considerations for Indoor Wintering

• Stock tank must handle the bioload of 100+ goldfish and koi.
• Robust filtration and aeration are essential.
• Water quality monitoring is critical in a confined indoor system.
• Plan for the space and maintenance requirements.

If catching all fish proves impossible, consider whether the pond is deep enough for natural overwintering with a de-icer and aeration, which may be less stressful for the fish.