Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations success!

Build a 3.5 acre pond three years ago. Pond is located in a hollow in the woods with water backed up into standing timber. Stocked it fall of 03 with 1750 bluegill/shellcrackers. Stocked it Easter of 04 with 250 F1 bass. Did not fertilize or lime. Have not supplemental fed. Put in 9 carp to keep the grass down.

Went fishing this weekend for the first time. Caught 17 bass and 40+ bluegill/shellcrackers. The largest bluegill was the size of my hand. The largest bass was 1.5 - 2 pounds, although the majority were half pound.

Had many other strikes and saw loads of minnows and other small forage fish alond the edges.

Water clarity was good at 18 inches.

I did catch one bass with a comorant bite in his back. Didn't realize they made it to central mississippi, but this is the second time I've found evidence of them. The first was seeing an actual bird at my father in laws pond.

Well, that is the story. I'm pumped. things appear to be going well. I can't wait until the bass collectively start getting larger and the fishing gets that much better.

stony,

Great success story! If I had it to do over, I'd probably do exactly what you did...in fact, I'm doing that now with a 2 acre pond....no feeders, no fertilizer, F1's, grass carp, Tilapia, and BG...just let nature take its course.

The exception to that is water turkeys...they require a degree of "management".

Keep us posted on your pond and your approach. Thanks.