Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Channel Cats?

Yes, remove every small crappie that you can. Large LMB won't eat small BC because they have to expend more energy for a smaller return. They'd rather eat a larger meal once than have to chase after 10 small meals for the same calories.

Those larger crappie are the ones that survived the previous spawns. You might be seeing less of the CC because they get very hook shy and hook wise once caught and released, or even if they see their buddies caught (in my experience). The LMB are probably not getting too large in the pond because of the crappie eating too many of the smaller fish. (less to grow to the right size for the 4# LMB to get optimum growth)