- Business Resources
- Agritourism
- Bed and Breakfasts
- Business Planning
- Bird Watching
- Conservation Easements
- Corn Mazes
- Cost Share Programs
- Farmers Markets
- Fee Fishing
- Financial Considerations
- Heritage Tourism
- Hunting Leases
- Legal Issues
- Marketing Your Business
- Mushroom Production
- Pine Straw
- Timber Management
- Trail Riding & Nature Trails
- Wildlife Watching
- Wildlife Management
- Backyard Habitat
- Bobwhite Quail
- Eastern Cottontail Rabbit
- Field Borders
- Louisiana Black Bear
- Mourning Doves
- Nongame Birds
- Tree Squirrels
- Warm Season Grasses
- Waterfowl
- Wetlands
- White-tailed Deer
- Wild Turkey
- Wildlife Foods
- Demonstration Areas
- Ames Plantation
- Charleston Farms
- Dove Fields
- Demonstration Pond
- Holly Springs
- Newton
- Pennington Seed
Business Resources: Fee Fishing
Fee fishing is growing in popularity. Because the fee-fishing ponds are stocked, anglers usually have a higher chance of catching a fish. There is much to consider when managing a fee-fishing pond including the location of the pond, selecting fish species and stocking the pond, the water quality, food for the fish, how developed or natural the land should be kept, and how to keep the customers happy and safe.
These resources have been compiled from various resources and agencies and are provided here for educational purposes only. Please if you find information that needs to be updated, broken links, or if you have an additional resource you feel is pertinent.
Fee Fishing: An Introduction
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. This publication describes what fee fishing is and why it is appealing to many types of people. It describes the types of fee fishing: long term leases, day leases and “fish out” or “pay-by-the-pound” ponds. It tells what to take into account if considering opening a fee fishing operation. This includes the market, liability, permits and licenses, and public relations.- Fee Fishing Ponds: Management of Food Fish and Water Quality
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. Properly managed water produces healthier fish and increases the likelihood of financial success. This article describes selecting fish species, hauling and stocking these fish with minimal stress, how many and how often to stock them, and managing and feeding the stocked fish. Information on water quality is also given, including the oxygen in the water, pH, alkalinity, handling ammonia and nitrate in the water, and aeration. This publication also discusses how to avoid off-flavor fish and control weeds, manage the health of the fish, and keep records. - Development and Management of Fishing Leases
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. This publication discusses the demand for fishing leases, how to plan and manage a lease, value-added amenities such as boats and tackle that are not included in the lease, using an economic analysis to determine if the lease will be successful, marketing, promoting and liability. A sample fishing lease is included. - Fee Fishing: Location, Site Development, and Other Considerations
Southern Regional Aquaculture Center. This publication discusses the many factors that influence the success of a fee fishing business. It describes how to choose a location for fee fishing that will be successful. It also discusses the types of people that will most likely be fee fishing clients, advertisement, promotion, and permits. Information is given on the set-up and security of the location, liability and safety, how the pond is built, its size, and the water in it, when the business should be open, concessions, and the comfort of the guests, and how to take advantage of other ponds on the property. - Farm Pond Management
Mississippi State University Extension Service. This website gives information on the small, privately owned farm ponds in Mississippi and has links that lead to information about building a farm pond, purchasing fish, controlling weeds and much more. - Managing Mississippi Farm Ponds and Small Lakes
Mississippi State University Extension Service. This publication gives information on the small, privately owned farm ponds in Mississippi and has links that lead to information about building a farm pond, purchasing fish, controlling weeds and much more. - Fee Fishing in Florida
Charles E. Cichra, The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2002 - Promoting Fee Fishing Operations as Tourist Attractions
Charles Chopak, Michigan State University, 1992 - Fee Fishing Ponds and Streams in Virginia
Louis A. Helfrich and Richard J. Neves, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, 2007 - Managing Kentucky Fee Fishing Operations
Forrest Wynne, Kentucky State University, Graves Coop. Extension Service, 2006 - Developing a Fee Fishing Enterprise: An Opportunity in Recreational Tourism
Steve Bogash, Maryland Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet 754
Pond Management
Farm pond management, when practiced correctly, is a year-round effort. Although not every management practice is required every month, and some are only needed once every several years, timing is critical to the success of almost all of the standard practices recommended in Mississippi. This calendar may help the pond owner remember when to conduct appropriate management procedures, and, thereby, ensure proper timing and satisfaction from management inputs. Learn more about farm pond management by visiting the Mississippi State University Extension Service Farm Pond Management website.
Mississippi State University • Mississippi State University Extension Service • MSU-ES Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Forest and Wildlife Research Center • Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station
