Who stocks The Villages' ponds with fish?

[Smalley]

I am wondering how the system works to stock our ponds. It's almost time for the migrating birds to return and they need some fish to encourage them to stop here for the winter! What departement is involved? Thanks folks,

[Laker14]

Interesting question. I had never thought about that. I know that given enough time, nature will stock ponds in a couple of ways. Birds of prey sometimes drop fish they have caught from another pond, and wading birds can transport roe on their feet from pond to pond, as can other animals, like alligators and beavers etc.
However, some of our ponds are fairly new. I wonder if the developer stocked them or just waited until nature did the trick. Without any actual knowledge, my guess is they let nature do it.

[Stu from NYC]

Great question.

[fishon]

Fish and frog eggs are transported to the new ponds by various wildlife, not limited to Egrets and Herons. That’s why there are trash fish like armored catfish.

[Laker14]

Fish and frog eggs are transported to the new ponds by various wildlife, not limited to Egrets and Herons. That’s why there are trash fish like armored catfish.

I surmise from your screen name that you know something about this subject.

[cjrjck]

I believe that The Villages Freshwater Fishing Club and the Districts have stocked ponds in TV. You can find a video or two on Youtube documenting this. Again, just my opinion, but I would assume the golf course only ponds are not stocked simply because they are not fishable and many of them are drained during renovations.

[cjrjck]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9vdTlk2EtM

[JP]

Many of the ponds are interconnected as they move water for irrigation and I think the fish and gators move that way plus the aforementioned ways.

[Pondboy]

Call Recreation, see the phone # on the attached.

[Topspinmo]

Some retention ponds go dry. Some had sink holes ������️. Fish go down with water and what’s left birds ������ get. If that pond connected with transfers tube then most fish will follow the moving water? I doubt majority of retention ponds are stocked?

[frayedends]

Do people fish in the small retention ponds? I'm just curious. There is an unlined pond near my house that I just bought. It's very small, but there is access without going on anyone's property. I haven't fished since I was a kid, but would like to try when I get there full time.

[Smalley]

Do people fish in the small retention ponds? I'm just curious. There is an unlined pond near my house that I just bought. It's very small, but there is access without going on anyone's property. I haven't fished since I was a kid, but would like to try when I get there full time.

Thanks people, I watched the video and it explains that the freshwater fishing club plus the districts do the stocking. The more fish, the more birds so I applaud the plan. I hope it's done periodically and widespread among our many ponds.

[dhdallas]

Do people fish in the small retention ponds? I'm just curious. There is an unlined pond near my house that I just bought. It's very small, but there is access without going on anyone's property. I haven't fished since I was a kid, but would like to try when I get there full time.

Go right ahead. The alligators will be more than happy to see you standing at the water's edge. Gators can move at 35mph over short distances. They are not normally aggressive but if a food source is right there and it's an easy grab, they may go for it. There was a woman at another community earlier this year walking her dog by a pond's edge when an alligator came up on the shore after the dog. The dog ran away & in front of the woman so the alligator grabbed the woman by the leg, dragged her into the pond and ate her. I enjoy seeing the alligators but I tend to give them a wide berth. Kind of like bees, you leave them alone, they leave you alone (unless you do something stupid).

[Altavia]

Go right ahead. The alligators will be more than happy to see you standing at the water's edge. Gators can move at 35mph over short distances. They are not normally aggressive but if a food source is right there and it's an easy grab, they may go for it. There was a woman at another community earlier this year walking her dog by a pond's edge when an alligator came up on the shore after the dog. The dog ran away & in front of the woman so the alligator grabbed the woman by the leg, dragged her into the pond and ate her. I enjoy seeing the alligators but I tend to give them a wide berth. Kind of like bees, you leave them alone, they leave you alone (unless you do something stupid).

We've had problems with alligators going for the fish they caught.

A gater started following fishermen around a pond and aggressively chasing their catch up the bank.

That gator had to be removed when it started following non-fishermen around as they walked a nearby MMP.

So please, if you fish, avoid doing it within sightings of gators.

[fcgiii]

I am wondering how the system works to stock our ponds. It's almost time for the migrating birds to return and they need some fish to encourage them to stop here for the winter! What departement is involved? Thanks folks,

one of our previous neighbors said he stocked our lake with bass fingerlings years ago. Fishermen from in and outside the villages come here to fish almost every day.

[kendi]

Wildlife expert from TV academy said fish are 80% of alligators diet. Since they are in just about every body of water seems fish would be too. I’m Certainly not an expert though. It’s just a thought.

[ehonour]

Built a house over in Melbourne thirty years ago adjacent to wetlands. Had the contractor dig a large pond (20'x40') in the back yard, using the dirt to build up the foundation. Never did any stocking of that pond, but fish showed up anyway. Lots of water birds, etc. A family of otters would come in about twice a year and take a couple of hours to harvest fish. (A delight to watch them.) Nature works.

[Altavia]

Built a house over in Melbourne thirty years ago adjacent to wetlands. Had the contractor dig a large pond (20'x40') in the back yard, using the dirt to build up the foundation. Never did any stocking of that pond, but fish showed up anyway. Lots of water birds, etc. A family of otters would come in about twice a year and take a couple of hours to harvest fish. (A delight to watch them.) Nature works.

The Pelican's will clean all the larger fish out of a lake in a day or two also.

[Stu from NYC]

The Pelican's will clean all the larger fish out of a lake in a day or two also.

They are very good at herding the fish and than having dinner.

[krick093]

Why in hell would anyone spend good money stocking ponds simply to feed the migrating water fowl? Another dumb idea on TOTV.

[MillerD]

When and what area? I never read this.

I've lived in FL all my life and I do not like gators. Some think they are cute or interesting and a dinosaur. Actually, they are not dinosaurs. Some birds are though.

[cjrjck]

We've had problems with alligators going for the fish they caught.

A gater started following fishermen around a pond and aggressively chasing their catch up the bank.

That gator had to be removed when it started following non-fishermen around as they walked a nearby MMP.

So please, if you fish, avoid doing it within sightings of gators.

If that were the rule, then I wouldn't get much fishing done in TV. Most of the ponds have a gator or two and they are usually curious and lack fear of humans. Personally, when it comes to the isolated retention ponds like you see mostly north of 44, I think all of the alligators should be relocated. They are a nuisance at a minimum and a potential threat to small mammals (pets) and people in many cases. Once relocated, due to the isolation of many of the ponds, it may take years before another alligator finds a home there.

[PugMom]

Wildlife expert from TV academy said fish are 80% of alligators diet. Since they are in just about every body of water seems fish would be too. I’m Certainly not an expert though. It’s just a thought.

you are correct. i was told the stocked fish are the main food supply of the gators, & helps keep them from hunting other creatures.

[Dgodin]

Never occurred to me the ponds are stocked. Ive never seen it done here.

[cjrjck]

you are correct. i was told the stocked fish are the main food supply of the gators, & helps keep them from hunting other creatures.

Any of the ponds stocked with the assistance of the Freshwater Fishing Club was clearly done so for the benefit of recreational fishing and not alligators.

[Stu from NYC]

Why in hell would anyone spend good money stocking ponds simply to feed the migrating water fowl? Another dumb idea on TOTV.

Like see the wildlife here and if it costs a few bucks for ponds to be stocked for their food so be it.

[cjrjck]

Like see the wildlife here and if it costs a few bucks for ponds to be stocked for their food so be it.

I find it silly to believe that TV spends money on expensive gamefish to feed alligators. They are stocked for fishing. Other species of fish will naturally end up in the ponds, mainly due to birds, and they are undoubtably consumed by alligators, but they are a far cry from the gamefish purposely added to the ponds.

[frayedends]

Go right ahead. The alligators will be more than happy to see you standing at the water's edge. Gators can move at 35mph over short distances. They are not normally aggressive but if a food source is right there and it's an easy grab, they may go for it. There was a woman at another community earlier this year walking her dog by a pond's edge when an alligator came up on the shore after the dog. The dog ran away & in front of the woman so the alligator grabbed the woman by the leg, dragged her into the pond and ate her. I enjoy seeing the alligators but I tend to give them a wide berth. Kind of like bees, you leave them alone, they leave you alone (unless you do something stupid).

I will avoid fishing in the small retention pond then. I would not want to have to shoot a gator.

[dhdallas]

Go right ahead. The alligators will be more than happy to see you standing at the water's edge. Gators can move at 35mph over short distances. They are not normally aggressive but if a food source is right there and it's an easy grab, they may go for it. There was a woman at another community earlier this year walking her dog by a pond's edge when an alligator came up on the shore after the dog. The dog ran away & in front of the woman so the alligator grabbed the woman by the leg, dragged her into the pond and ate her. I enjoy seeing the alligators but I tend to give them a wide berth. Kind of like bees, you leave them alone, they leave you alone (unless you do something stupid).

Recent incident (just to illustrate my point):
On Friday, September 22, 2023, a resident of Largo, Florida stumbled upon a horrifying scene while walking along 134th Avenue near McKay Creek, just west of 121st Street. At approximately 1:45 p.m., the individual noticed an alligator with what appeared to be part of a human body in its mouth. From the canal, authorities retrieved an adult human torso and reports suggesting the possibility of one or two additional limbs.

Source:
09/22/2023 - Largo, FL
Resident calls authorities after seeing an alligator with human remains in its mouth in a Pinellas canal - IONTB (https://iontb.com/resident-calls-authorities-after-seeing-an-alligator-with-the-body-of-a-human-in-a-pinellas-canal/)

NOTE: Alligator attacks are extremely rare in Florida especially considering the thousands or people who swim, fish, and kayak/paddleboard on Florida lakes, rivers, and canals, so this is why when one does happen it makes front page news.

[Two Bills]

If that were the rule, then I wouldn't get much fishing done in TV. Most of the ponds have a gator or two and they are usually curious and lack fear of humans. Personally, when it comes to the isolated retention ponds like you see mostly north of 44, I think all of the alligators should be relocated. They are a nuisance at a minimum and a potential threat to small mammals (pets) and people in many cases. Once relocated, due to the isolation of many of the ponds, it may take years before another alligator finds a home there.

There is no relocation of alligators.
Report an alligator, it will be trapped and killed.
The only Village alligator to get lucky was Larry.

[Stu from NYC]

I will avoid fishing in the small retention pond then. I would not want to have to shoot a gator.

Not to mention you would not like to become dinner

[cjrjck]

There is no relocation of alligators.
Report an alligator, it will be trapped and killed.
The only Village alligator to get lucky was Larry.

Thanks. Even better I guess since trapping an alligator has its risks. The effect is the same though. I really don't mind alligators in the wild but they do not belong in the small isolated retention ponds.

[Stu from NYC]

Thanks. Even better I guess since trapping an alligator has its risks. The effect is the same though. I really don't mind alligators in the wild but they do not belong in the small isolated retention ponds.

Tell that to the gator whose family has lived here much longer than we have

[Dusty_Star]

There is no relocation of alligators.
Report an alligator, it will be trapped and killed.
The only Village alligator to get lucky was Larry.

Maybe Larry got lucky.

[Stu from NYC]

Maybe Larry got lucky.

With mrs larry?

[vintageogauge]

The Pelican's will clean all the larger fish out of a lake in a day or two also.

Anhinga's do a good job of un-stocking ponds in a very short period of time. It's amazing to watch how many fish they eat, they will eat all day long taking a short break from time to time.