Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Larger scale issues of stock management

First port here folks but I looked around and like what I see so I thought I might put a question before you.

Here is the situation. A friend is buying a duck club that has a 360 acre dead timber resivior on it. At one time it was well managed and produced consistant good size fish. This summer we got out there and had a ball but all of the bream are small, under hand sized for the most part, the bass are 1 to 1 1/2 lbs on average with the occasional 3-5 showing up and the crappie ar every small.
Mind you we had never fished this water before and I alone caught over 20 bass in one short afternoon.
This is a lot of acreage to manage with any method but seins are out due to stumps and a water hyacinth problem that is being managed now. Shocking would be tough since this is a secluded area and trucking the fish out might be a chore.
I guess perhaps draining it down and then emplowing any and all methods might work and we they have considered it to help fight the coontail and hyacinth as well as to work on some duck feed in shallows.

So where do we start in managing the fish? I like the idea of a youth and ladies trip in conjunction with the local wildlife department but this is tough country and I would also be concerned about liability.

I have helped rebalance small ponds before but this is WAY beyond my abilities, no matter how much I like to catch and eat fish.

Thanks for your help. THis is a great site.
Tupe

tupe,
I can only help with the kids & womens events liability. I am involved with the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Fed) & the NCWRC (N C Wildlife Res. Comm.) The group putting on the event such as the state wildlife comm. or the NWTF are the responsible persons should there be a mishap. The NWTF group is required to purchase insurance for each event.
Ric

I think there are plenty of people here that will be willing to help, catch and release, to help you get some more data. I know me a couple buddies would even be willing to help survey the duck hunting.

Good luck. Looks like you have a great opportunity.