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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 58
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I caught a nice size crappie from my pond this afternoon. I never stocked crappie, is it possible when it was stocked a little over 2 years ago they accidentally put one in. This is the first time I've seen a crappie in my pond?
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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It is very possible... I think very likely as a matter of fact. Has your pond had a flood event where another body of water touched yours through an outflow pipe? Is your pond fed by a stream that has a pond further upstream of it? The crappies could have washed down stream from the other pond into yours... These are all possible ways the crappie(s) could have found their way into your pond? An unknown unwanted fisherman could have dumped a few in your pond as well... Some think birds are good fish spreaders as well? It may simply be one lone crappie. What size pond do you own? Often times crappie struggle to pull off a successful spawn in a small pond, so there may be no issue as the original stockers may die off in few more years.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 477
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2008
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mikel, I caught 2 crappi in a row last summer in my pond. I killed both of them. I was pretty worried that I would catch more but I never did. I tried minnows and fished for them for a couple hours but never did catch anything but a couple bass and some GSF. I still don't know how they got in the pond but I'm glad they never spawned (hopefully I haven't spoken too soon).
I have a few guesses as to how they got in there. The usual suspects: someone just dumped them in or they came with some other stocked fish.
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 544
Lunker
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Not even a thank you, I had to carry them fish a long ways to get them to your pond, a little thanks would be nice, geeeeesh!!!! You should see the baby muskies and bullheads I dropped in there........
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Joe is just returning the favor because of the flatheads I airmailed into his pond. Mikel, We have crappie in 2 ponds. We never intentionally stocked them in either pond. I'm guessing some crappie made it in disguised at fatheads. Also, during times of flooding, a creek can back up to our ponds. We've had carp, gizzard shad, alligator gar, crappie, and bullheads come in from floods. We just try to keep a close eye on what is going on in the ponds. Bullhead fry, for example, are very noticeable because they form black "clouds" near the surface. An electrofishing survey could be in order if you think there are more than just a few crappie.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Hall of Fame Lunker
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Since I learned to fly I've been doing a lot of aerial stocking of ponds. Come to think of it I think I did fly over your pond.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Moderator Lunker
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Cecil, is it eggs sticking to your Baird feathers or Baird feet? Or do you carry whole fish in your mouth and then release them?
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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I stock a lot of ponds when I'm flying while sleeping/dreaming, but I can never seem to get high enough no matter how hard I flap my arms.
Excerpt from Robert Crais' "The Monkey's Raincoat:" "She took another microscopic bite of her sandwich, then pushed it away. Maybe she absorbed nutrients from her surroundings."
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Joined: Oct 2007
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JoeG, easy about the bullhead talk...smoothies are trophy fish where I come from
Fisheries Biologist Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
"Success is often overlooked because it dresses up in overalls and disguises itself as work."
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Joined: Apr 2003
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but I can never seem to get high enough Nah...that's just too easy...
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Joined: Feb 2007
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CJBS, I don't have any other body of water that would bring fish into my pond. The pond is 1.25 acres in size. I'm hoping there aren't any more crappie. If I catch another I'll let you know.
Thanks, for the input guys. The way I caught the crappie was in a wire catfish net. It is 19"in diameter and 60" long. It was baited with that real stinky cheese.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Sounds like your stocking was contaminated with them then... Try fishing for them and see if you catch anymore. If you don't, you probably had a few, they never spawned and will die out. If you start catching a few more, perhaps consider an electrofishing survey if it really concerns you... Just understand they maybe in there now and you need to consider the ramifications.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Sunil, there's nothing to flying. You just gotta go up faster than you're going down. Simple.
Pond Boss Subscriber & Books Owner
If you can read this ... thank a teacher. Since it's in english ... thank our military! Ric
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I have gizzard shad, bullheads, and green sunfish along with white crappie that I did not stock but I have had two floods that could have brought them from upstream.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Fish love to follow floods to new homes...
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