Forums36
Topics41,021
Posts558,581
Members18,537
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
12 members (Stressless, etx-pond-c, Don Kennedy, Sunil, Boondoggle, Shorthose, BEPA, WiYeti, catscratch, wps456, canyoncreek, fletchccc),
955
guests, and
227
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17 |
I have acess to 4 acre pond in central Georgia. The Lake is 20 ft deep or better at the dam. It was stocked 8 years ago with bass, bream (bluegill maybe others?), and I have been told crappie, although I have never seen or caught one. The lake was rarely fished until two years ago, I began fishing it then. I came to the conclusion that there were too many bass so I began harvesting only the small bass. The lake is still full of 1/2 to 1 lb bass. I can litterally catch 20-30 in a two to three hour period, go back the4 next day and do the same. Big bass are few and far between though. I have caught and released a few larger bass, but they seem to be thin. The bluegills I catch are nice size but there aren't alot of them. I beleive the bass have overpopulated, and don't have enough forage.
Any suggestions? Maybe stock shad?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 115
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 115 |
I think your on the right track, continue harvesting the smaller bass. If you can catch 20-30 at a time it wouldn't take long in a 4 acre impoundment to make a dent in the population.
Stocking Shad may also be a good idea but it sounds like you have a lot of hungry fish and with so many bass of good size, they could make quick work of them. What kind of cover is around the pond for baitfish now?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17 |
Well I pulled out about 200 year before last, and about 150 last year, but they are still plentifull. Hasn't seem to have made too big of a dent in the population. As far as cover, it is pretty good, when the dam busted 10-12 years ago they left the lake empty for a few years, let alot of brush grow. There are alot of small channels around the lake, stump fields, and submerged trees. I was wondering if there was anything else I could do. I have never known of a lake to only have bass and bream.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627 |
Large bream and lots of small bass, classic case of a bass heavy pond. You are doing the right thing take out all small bass you will never catch them all. Over a period of time you should see larger bass and bream in all sizes. Is the pond fertilized or is there a feeding program? I am in Putnam County, where is the pond?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17 |
I am in south Rockdale. The lake is not fertilized and not fed. I was fishing yesterday and pulled another 8 small bass out, they weren't hitting well. The water is crystal clear, can see the bottom 6ft deep. Bream are doing a little better this year, I caught about 20 nice sized, a few big enough to lip like a bass. I see no bait fish around the shore, all of the other lakes I fish have alot of small bass and bream swimming around any cover they can find, but my pond I don't see any. I saw for the first time this year a school in the middle of the lake breaking the surface. All day long they would go from one send of the lake to the other. I don't know what they are, but I don't think they would be bass or bream. I did get a little encouragement yesterday though, there are at least three bass in there at least 8# or better. All day they patroled the shoreline. They're huge, but I can't get them to hit anything, not even live bream.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027 |
Boy I could use some of thoes bass..I don't have a single one!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 627 |
Big Pond how is your water level?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,027 |
Still four feet down from the top..
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17 |
If you want them and you think you can catch them and keep them alive, come get them. Thanks everyone who posted for the info.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|