I think it's time to direct attention to looming SHTF possibilities and one particular opportunity for private pond and lake owners.

As far as the SHTF stuff, just do a simple internet search or two or 300, and you'll see what I mean. Food shortages are likely. Quality fresh fish can be guaranteed when you raise it yourself. IMO, it is important to prepare for worst case scenarios. In the event that we have a serious food shortage in this country or anywhere in the world, those with freshwater aquatic resources will be blessed with the potential to produce their own seafood. More of us can and should already be growing our own seafood if we have the resources to work with. I realize that most of Texas is experiencing drought conditions. Some lucky folks have water wells topping off their ponds, some even have had enough recent rainfall to stock some fish. When/if your private pond or lake fills back up you may want to reconsider the primary goal for your resource.....FOOD PRODUCTION.

Just to get ideas rolling, here are a few basic suggestions for fish species and methodology:

Potential Food Fish Species for Pond Food Production Ranked by Todd Overton, based on ease and cost of production, hardiness, table fare

>Tilapia
>Channel and Blue Catfish
>Hybrid Stripers
>Largemouth Bass
>Trout (they grow fast in Tx winters, which are like Colorado summers)
>Bluegill
>Freshwater Shrimp

Possible Methodology for Production and Harvest
>"Free Range Growth" with no nets, harvesting via angling, bow-fishing, etc.
>Net Pen Culture in a section or several areas of the pond, managed with an aerator and supplemental fish food. Some farms construct cages and aerate nearby or create a current through the cage. This make harvest a piece of cake. Here is an idea that I am developing at the farm, called a "PondPoolPen." It's just an above ground swimming pool with custom fit net, with 4000 gallon capacity. We have it set up here pumping warm water in, allowing it to escape through the skimmer hole that you see in the pic, then we can trap tilapia and harvest them easily. This pool can be rigged with an aerator and/or water pump, pumping into the pool and allowing water to escape through the skimmer port. Depending on management and luck, I see the potential to safely raise up to about 1000lbs of fish in this PondPoolPen. One caveat I see here is that you need consistent water levels, within 6", to make this work well as outlined.



>Raceway/Tank Production set up near your pond or lake, piping water to the production tank and allowing overflow to return to your pond. This tank also can be aerated, or you can allow for pumped water from the pond to aerate the production tank (assuming your pond oxygen levels are adequate). Here is an example setup at our farm with my daughter catching rainbow trout for dinner:



>And then there is aquaponics. You could use your pond or lake as a water source for an aquaponics system setup nearby. An aquaponics setup will have you raising fish AND vegetables together. Look it up.

If you really want to get serious then you can get into cool ways of storing your seafood, like vacuum sealing, freezing, smoking, pickling, canning, etc. Or you can manage your production system by taking fresh seafood when you want, and growing them between your seafood meals.

If you are anybody out there interested in setting something up at your property then please let me know I would be interested in consulting or setting up a system for you.