Crappie, Bream, Catfish, Bass all in 1 acre! HELP! - 06/15/10 02:35 AM
I need some help/advice. I have a pond that's around an acre in total area and might be 8-10 feet deep in at it's deepest point. This pond was a farm pond that was built in around 1915. It's now surrounded by 5 homes in a residential area. About 5 or 6 years ago my neighbor decided to put a cooler full of crappie in the pond.
I fish the pond quite a bit and usually fish for bream. Over the past 3 years the quality of the fish has taken a pretty good nose dive. All of the bass are small, the bream are getting smaller and the crappie are getting smaller. When I do set out a line for catfish they're huge! 10-15lbs easily and some are bigger.
I talked to the state DNR several years ago when I first discovered the crappie and they told me to drain it and start over. I'm not sure that is an option with me not having total control over the pond.
I've read a few other post and will start taking out smaller bass and all the crappie that I catch(which I do anyway). What else could I do to create a healthier fish population?
I fish the pond quite a bit and usually fish for bream. Over the past 3 years the quality of the fish has taken a pretty good nose dive. All of the bass are small, the bream are getting smaller and the crappie are getting smaller. When I do set out a line for catfish they're huge! 10-15lbs easily and some are bigger.
I talked to the state DNR several years ago when I first discovered the crappie and they told me to drain it and start over. I'm not sure that is an option with me not having total control over the pond.
I've read a few other post and will start taking out smaller bass and all the crappie that I catch(which I do anyway). What else could I do to create a healthier fish population?