How's your fishing?

Are you satisfied with the numbers and size of fish you're currently landing?  Are you catching the species of fish you really want?  If not, then your water's fish population may be out of balance.  The relationship between predator and prey species in your lake or pond, and the overall health of your water can be dramatically improved with:

• Your fishing "information" - No one knows your water better than you
• Your fish stocking history - Have you stocked previously?
• Proper fish stocking - Adjusting inventory to restore population balance
• Aeration - Oxygenation and mixing produce huge benefits and eliminates fish kills
• Aquatic weed control and management - No aquatic plants are necessary in small ponds, while plants inhabiting 15% to 20% of the surface area of larger ponds (i.e. 10 acres) is beneficial
• Proper catch-and-release and put-and-take tactics - Maintaining your own fish population balance
• Good record-keeping means better fishing.  Get to know your water...be observant...become your own fisheries manager!

Call Stoney Creek Fisheries...we'll help put fish in the boat!

Fish Stocking Permits

"Who needs a public waters stocking permit?"  As a buyer of fish for stocking, it is your responsibility to ascertain if your water will require a Public Waters Stocking Permit from the State of Michigan.  Current information from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI-DNR) states that a fish stocking permit is required for all public waters, and for private waters, if that private water meets any of the following criteria:

1. If the water body to be stocked is permanently connected to public waters via an inlet or outlet

2. If the water body to be stocked is not permanently connected to any other water body, it does not require a Public Waters Stocking Permit unless it meets one of the two following conditions:
           a.  If the water body has public access a Public Waters Stocking Permit is required
           b.  If the water body has been stocked at any time in the past by the state, a Public Waters Stocking Permit is required

Obtain an application and assistance for obtaining a Public Waters Stocking Permit from any MI-DNR Fisheries managements Unit Office.  Stoney Creek Fisheries will provide you with a copy of the current fish health certificate for the species to be stocked.  This certificate is to accompany the stocking permit application submitted to your regional MI-DNR office.

The following is a list of MI-DNR regional offices and telephone numbers:
Western Lake Superior...............906-293-5131   
Eastern Lake Superior................906-293-5131
Northern Lake Michigan..............906-786-2351
Central Lake Michigan................231-775-9727
Southern Lake Michigan..............616-685-6851
Northern Lake Huron.................989-732-3541
Southern Lake Huron.................989-684-9141
Lake Erie..............................248-359-9046

If needed, give us a call here at Stoney Creek Fisheries and we'll try to provide additional assistance with the permitting process.

Note to our readers:  Stoney Creek Fisheries conducts fish sales in the state of Michigan only, thus the permitting information above is for our Michigan customers only.  If you are outside the state of Michigan, please check with your local state authority regarding fish stocking and fish stocking permit requirements.

Fish Certification

Stoney Creek Fisheries is a registered aquaculture facility with the Michigan Departments of Agriculture.  All of our fish stocks are certified disease-free on an annual basis.  Everyone in the Great Lakes Region is concerned with controlling fish diseases, especially VHS (viral hemorrhagic septicemia).  Stoney Creek Fisheries closely follows the ever-changing status and regulations governing control of VHS and other fish pathogens.  The high cost of additional fish health tests has affected all facilities and fish prices.  At Stoney Creek, we continually strive to provide the finest sport fish fingerlings in Michigan at an affordable price.

** This web site is for informational purposes only.  All prices are subject to change.**