Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Bought a property with an old .4 acre pond

Hi there,

Brand new poster and pond owner. Got a 5 acre property in SW Tennessee with a pond that's a little under half an acre.

The property had been neglected for a few years when I got it, and the pond was pretty much invisible with all the vegetation growing around it. I've managed to clear a lot of the foliage and now I'm trying to evaluate what I've got.

Judging with my uneducated eyes, I think there are a few bluegills and mosquito fish in there (and a friend claims he saw a bass), but the water's so dank and murky I've only seen a few poking out into the shallows. A lot of red eared sliders and the occasional heron are eating something in there.

I just got an aerator in that will hopefully start clearing it up.

My goals are to establish it as a relatively low maintenance food source and fishing spot for family and friends that is unfriendly to mosquitoes (the mosquitoes love it right now). From what I've read, bluegill seems like a good option.

Any recommendations on the best ways going forward to assess what I've got in there now?

Any primer reading material you would be willing to recommend would be much appreciated as well - this is my first pond.

Welcome to PBF!

Do you know how deep your pond is and how much muck is built up in the bottom? I would make sure I followed the slow startup procedure with the aeration to keep from killing what fish you have. I would also do some fishing with live bait a few times to know what you have. Sit in a chair with a small hook and fish bits of worms and also try some minnows if you can. You will need some LMB to control the BG if you stock some.

Good luck on your new adventure!

Bill D.

Thanks. Didn't know about the slow startup procedures. I had plugged it in and let it run for about 5 hours. Here's hoping I didn't unleash too many toxic gases for the fish already in there.

My wife tried fishing it when we first moved in and hooked a red eared slider. But she was using old hot dogs thinking there might be catfish in there.

Haven't figured the depth yet.

Just fished this out of the pond. It's a bluegill right?

Yup! Bluegill alright! Nice'n too. Looks like a big bull.