Forums36
Topics40,902
Posts557,131
Members18,452
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
14 members (FishinRod, Bill Cody, Sunil, jpsdad, Boondoggle, Augie, Jason D, PRCS, Shorthose, Brett B, Layne, Angler8689, rjackson, esshup),
1,006
guests, and
221
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18
|
OP
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18 |
I stocked 150 BG, 30 LMB, & 15 CC in June of '07. Since then I have removed 70-80 BG and 4-5 LMB. Where do I go from here. I intend on removing all the CC. I have fed since stocking using generic brands of food, this year i will be feeding AM 500. My pond is 1/4 acre. Looking to improve the size of BG and LMB if possible. I will be installing an aerator.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 110
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 110 |
What are the sizes of BG and LMB right now and what does the population of each look like? Feeding the BG good food should help their growth, do your LMB eat feed, too? The common method of increasing BG size is to have lots of small, hungry LMB that eat the young BG and allow a smaller number of BG to grow to larger sizes. However, if yours are being fed competition for food shouldn't be an issue, I don't think. Removing any small, runty LMB will help the remaining ones grow as it'll lessen the competition and allow the remaining ones access to a higher percentage of available forage.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
A 1/4 acre only supports a VERY limited amount of biomass... It probably will only support 30-40 pounds of bass at most. Managing a reproducing fishery in such a small body of water is a real challenge. If it were me, I would poison off your fish and start over utilizing a set of none reproducing fish such as a HBG/CC/HSB fishery where you can manage numbers through stocking and harvesting without the worry/limited worry of reproduction. That combination can also handle heavier fishing pressure better as well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028 Likes: 274
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,028 Likes: 274 |
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,544 |
Solid advice CJB.. but not Many people appeal to killing everything and starting over. I'm not one of those people lol..
I believe in catch and release. I catch then release to the grease.. BG. CSBG. LMB. HSB. RES.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18
|
OP
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18 |
I am not either. I plan on checking weights and lengths this season and I can remove the smaller bass. We caught 5 BG the other day and they were 8-10" and I'm guessing around 3/4 of a pound. Think I will continue to work with what I have.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18
|
OP
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 18 |
I think I misunderstood you. I do not want to kill everything and start over.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 10,458 Likes: 2 |
Then you will need to catch and remove large numbers of LMB and BG and expect extremely hook shy difficult to catch bass.
Say your pond supports 40 pounds of bass. That's for example, one 5 pound bass, two 4 pound bass, four 3 pound bass, four 2 pound and 7 1 pound bass. That totals 18 bass in your whole pond. Doesn't take long to make them extremely hook shy and smart! Just realize your limitations and set your goals accordingly...
Consider removing as many bass as you can via hook and line and replacing some with feed trained bass. That would allow you to produce a few more pounds of bass per acre with a feeding program.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 110
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 110 |
I am not either. I plan on checking weights and lengths this season and I can remove the smaller bass. We caught 5 BG the other day and they were 8-10" and I'm guessing around 3/4 of a pound. Think I will continue to work with what I have. Did you catch any smaller BG? I think any size LMB would have trouble eating an 8-10" BG. If you're not catching any smaller ones it's probably because they're all getting eaten by the small bass. You'll probably need some smaller size classes of BG to encourage LMB growth. As suggested, removing all the LMB you can catch would be a good start if you desire trophy sized fished with what you have to work with.
Last edited by vaheelsfan; 04/22/11 06:27 PM.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|