Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations ohio pond owners

any of you have some advice for a first time pond owner i want the best bass pond i can get out of a half acre pond.

where are all of you ohioan's

Is your pond new or an existing pond that already has Fish?

Hosty,
Not an expert or from Ohio, but here is my $0.02. Ponds less than 1 acre can be difficult to manage for largemouth bass. Depending on the trophic level of the pond this size, it is very limited in the biomass of fish it can sustain. A 10 year old pond in Missouri for example, which would be fairly fertile, can only sustain about 190 pounds of bluegill and 35 pounds of bass. So, if you went with a natural bass/bluegill fishery, you would probably only be able to carry about 18 pounds of bass. With this limited # of bass, they can easily be overharvested if you keep any or if any die from hook injuries, poor water conditions, etc. I'm not saying it can't be done, it is just more difficult.

You would be able to increase your carrying capacity by fertilization, supplemental feeding and aeration, but all of this takes a lot of time and $.

jab, my pond is new not full yet.