Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Where are my bass and cats???

I've got a 6 acre pond with HBG, CC, and LMB that I've been managing to get it back in balance. 2 years ago I was very bass heavy. We've taken out 200 pounds of bass each year for 2 years by culling all LMB between 6" and 12" and all skinny, big headed bass. This resulted in good growth and we were seeing many fish 16-18" that are 90-95% L/W ratio. These were caught and measured this spring.
My problem now is that I'm only catching and observing LMB that are 6-8". I'm not even seeing bass from the bank or boat. I'm in east central Indiana and the pond is down around 3 feet due to the drought conditions. I also have heavy Eurasian Watermilfoil growth in around 50% of the pond as well as quite a bit of FA. I can take care of the milfoil with 2,4-D, but I havn't been able to treat it this year fearing a DO event and fish kill. Several of my friends with ponds have had MAJOR fish kills this year already. The pond is mainly 5-6 feet deep with the exception of the SW 2 acres which vary from 8 to 22 feet. Visibility in the pond is 2 feet measured with a sechi disk. We have a pretty good population of large CC and we've only caught 2 all year. Also I've had 2 of my large grass carp have died in the last 30 days. Where the heck are my bass and cats?? Ideas??

They're there, just hiding. If you can't see a white disc further away than 24" just think how hard it is to spot a green LMB in greenish water...... I have feed trained LMB in my pond, and they will make a wake following me around the pond to the feeder. Can I catch them on rod and reel? Not easily. If it wasn't for them feeding on pellets, I'd think I only had small LMB in my pond too.

I battled EWM in my pond for a few years, and I finally hit it with Fluridone last year, late Summer. Not a high enough dose to kill the native plants, or affect the marginal plants, but knock on wood, there's no sign of EWM this year.

Esshup is right, I too had not caught any of my Florida bass and all year long. Did not see any either. I was concerned. Then all of a sudden the last 2 times I have gone to the pond I caught 3 each time and they all looked great! I haven't seem them all year then all of a sudden bam there they are! My water is very clear and I was walking the bank Friday afternoon and I scared up a couple of nice fish that took off and made the big dust cloud and I never saw them at all! They are not as easy to find as you may think. I have also noticed that your bigger bass don't cruise as much as you would think they do. Or they do it at night more. Just my 2 cents. Look at the lunar calendar pick a good day and go chunk a buzz bait and motor oil green worm for about 5 or 6 hours non stop. You will find a few I bet!!

Thanks for your input guys! I was really getting concerned, but your comments make me feel much better!! Cheers!!!

You're in Indiana, it's been a drought and ridiculously hot until the last week or two. They're deep.