Invertebrate Stocking Time!

During this brief time of the year (Jan thru Feb) hunters, managers, and waterfowl lovers across the northern tier of states and the Prairie Pothole region of Canada can do well to stock their ponds and sloughs with Freshwater Shrimp. You’ve all seen these critters hanging on your decoy lines at the end of a fabulous hunt, haven’t you? It’s no secret that these tiny creatures are one of the reasons you had a fabulous hunt.

While the Fisheries Management agencies in the northern tier of states have done their best to use ponds filled with these invertebrates to feed their fingerling walleye and muskie, the lack of winterkill and the resulting established population of game fish has led to a drastic decline in freshwater shrimp. You can offset this loss in natural food for ducks and geese by stocking your favorite honey hole with freshwater shrimp. Typically only available from mid-January to late-February, NOW is the time for stocking.

There are numerous sources on the internet for purchasing tens-of-thousands of freshwater shrimp at a time for the cost of a couple boxes of shotgun shells. Simply drill a hole in the ice, dump the critters in, and be amazed at your hunting and bird watching success this fall.

I do not represent any retailer or wholesaler. I offer this information purely for the sake of restoring a key piece in the puzzle of waterfowl habitat conservation. Besides, it is in all of our best interest to keep a healthy waterfowl population.

Never knew this was even being done… Welcome to IDO Sloughslapper

big g

Thank you Big G for the hearty welcome.

I’ve had success in a couple wetlands in Central MN. It’s difficult to establish a large population, however, if there are fish present. Especially stickleback and fathead minnows. I’m hoping this years cold weather, ice thickness, and snow cover will allow a lot of ponds and sloughs to finally winterkill and purge the fish populations left over from fish rearing activity.

I am of the idea that the loss of amphipods (freshwater shrimp) is a major contributor to the loss of bluebills over the past 20 years. I have found it interesting that the MN DNR switched from fish rearing in man-made ponds to utilizing established wetlands shortly before the bluebill population started to crash.

We have stocked shrimp in a couple of our spots, but never when there is still ice. Is this the best time to do it or is it that they are more available right now. What have you found to be the best depths for stocking the shrimp. I have found that if the slough is at all deep we have not had success. Oh yeah, and welcome to the site.

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We have stocked shrimp in a couple of our spots, but never when there is still ice. Is this the best time to do it or is it that they are more available right now.

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This is the absolute best time of the year to stock as the shrimp have already selected mates, their survivability is greatest, they are easier to collect by wholesalers, and there is plenty of decomposing vegetation to eat. The MN DNR has attempted to stock in late spring, summer, and fall with horrid results.

I think the depth situation has to do with possible established populations of fish and/or minnows that don’t winterkill. Fish love freshwater shrimp just as much as ducks. Marginally deep lakes, such as Lake McCormick near Sauk Centre, had superior populations of shrimp until it was used as a walleye rearing pond and the winterkills became fewer between.

It’s best to stock at least 1 gallon per acre. Two gallons is best but if you’re on a tight budget like me, it’s hard to do that with a large body of water.

Where are you getting your shrimp? When we did it my buddy bought them and I don’t know where. You mentioned Sauk Center, are you in that area? If you are we should meet up this fall and drop the on the drivers.
DT

I don’t want to mention any particular retailers as that is not the purpose of the post nor fair to the market.

I am of the thinking that the major supply of shrimp, found at select bait shops for a grossly inflated price, come from the same wholesaler for under $60 per gallon (20,000 – 40,000 shrimp). If you can find the wholesaler, your cost will be greatly reduced.

I was able to get the wholesaler to deliver my batch to a local bait shop and I picked them up there. It saved on fuel and shipping costs, big time.

I appreciate the offer to chase some divers. I am not from Sauk Centre but I sure pass through it every weekend on my way out west.

Geat post! While your stocking remember to clean out your wood duck houses. (But watch out for the wintering squirls. ) Damn near fell off the lader last year.

Were getting close to having the kids come home for the summer. If you don’t have any houses. Now would be a great time to make a few.