Any PA guys know if there are provisions in PA fish and Boat regs for culling in private ponds for fish management. All I can find is that Pa inland fish regulations apply to private ponds which would mean no ability to remove numerous or undersized fish. Enlighten me please. I've got a lot of undersized bass that need to be removed for the health of my pond. Thanks

Yes, PA is in the dark ages and private waters fall under the same management rules and laws and public ones. Insane!!! So, by law you technically must follow season, size and creel limits for bass or any other species... Ridiculous, is all I can say. I honestly don't know too many Fish Wardens in PA who make it a happen to stop by private ponds to make sure those rules are being followed though... ;-)

Maryland is the same way, I called the DNR, even private ponds are subject to the state laws.

In 60 years since the pond has been there, a game warden showed up one single time.

While I do whatever I want to do with my pond, I guess I can see some of the logic.

If we look at wildlife, for instance. Say you own 1,000 acres of land, and you start raising your own 'wild' deer and turkeys. They don't want you to be able to harvest all that outside of set hunting seasons.

So, why should it be different for fish?

Again, though, I do whatever I feel needs done at my pond.

The difference is ponds are enclosed and the fish are not wild.

The historical basis for game controls is that the game is wild , you did not put it there (stock) and can leave your land. You do not own the game unless and until you harvest it and that can be regulated. In private enclosed ponds the fish can't leave and were stocked.

Certainly all states don't follow this historical basis but that is the genesis of game ownership and laws.

Thanks for the replies guys

Generally, if the body of water is completely private as in a pond or lake. Most states allow you to do as you please. However, if you part of a river, those fish can come and go as they please and thus would be under state laws for fish management. Just like if you fenced in 200 acres on your land and stocked it with whitetail deer. Those deer basically become livestock and you can shoot them any time of year in most states.

I just remembered something, and this makes it more interesting. We do have private pay fishing ponds here in PA where you don't need a license to fish. Now how does that work? Hmmm.

You have to obtain a permit from the PFBC. That permit costs serious $$$$...

I can tell you that in Illinois the creel limits caught per day do apply to private waters. I called the IDNR office and spoke to them at length about this a couple of years ago.

My argument was that I paid to have the pond built, I bought the fish, they are wholly my property. If I choose to do so I can drain the pond and kill 100% of them in one fell swoop. I can bring someone in and Rotenone the whole thing and start over and no one can stop me.

Their response was 'yes you can do that, but if you harvest them via hook and line you must abide by state laws'.

Of course I live in Illinois...one of the most ridiculous states in the nation specific to idiotic laws.

I didn't think creel limits were set statewide in illinois different lakes have different limits so what do you go by dlowrance?

I agree. I asked a game warden some years ago and he told me I could catch anything in my private pond with no rules. However, someone else fishing in my pond must comply with Illinois regulations.