Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations 2 acre lake...when to start taking out fish

I ahve a 2 acre lake that I stocked with 2,000 coppernose, 6k fathead minnows 16 months ago then stocked 120 tiger bass 1 yr ago. I feed 20 seconds on my lifetime feeder twice a day (may be going to three) and fertilize it every three weeks or so with 10-52-4.

Anyway my question is when do I start removing fish? Bass and Bream.

The pond is located in south alabama

Usual rule of thumb is that you want to leave the original stockers in there as brood fish and harvest their offspring.

I'd print out the relative weight charts in the archives and use theose as a guide for the next year or 2 for removing fish. Any fish that is under 90% RW I'd remove.

I've looked and looked and still can't find the relative weight charts. Can somebody post a link please??

From the Common Ponds Q and A (archives)

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=160456#Post160456

Wow that's awesome would love to see how they are doing! I too had this same question when I stocked my CNBG. Of course it's up to you in the end, but they told me to try and not keep any of your original stock if possible let them grow up to be your breeders and your fun fish to catch. Of

I started keep fish in the 6 to 8 inch range this year. This year being my 4th year. I like others hear like to keep the larger BG 8.5 inches and up for fun fishing, but like I said that's up to you. It's not gonna hurt to keep a couple over 8. Them tiger bass are loving that pond I bet!! Lots to eat! Would love to see a pic or 2 of them bass.

Your bass should keep most of your BG in check and remove them for you! That's what they are there for. Catch a few of them bass and take some RW's on them to see where they stand. I bet they are 100 percent RW or more! Which is good. I would wait on keeping any BG specially if you put them in there as 2 inchers. Like I said I waited 3 years before I started pulling any but I did not put near that many in my pond either.

I read (on the internet) that you dont want to harvest largemouth until the stocker's offspring have spawned, usually 3 years. That seems a bit long to me though.

James, I think that is too long. I PERSONALLY recommend trying to eliminate offspring every chance I get. The biggest problem with bass, in warm climates, is that you can seldom catch enough of the darn things.

Start harvest management on the first fish born in the pond (year 2 about).

In this scenario where he stocked the forage fish 1 yr earlier than the predators lmb, are you suggesting removing bluegill in yr 2 of the bond and then lmb in year 3 of the pond (2nd yr for the bass) or do you wait to do any removal until the predators lmb have been in the pond for 2 years?