Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Working on LMB reduction

So I've decided that I want my small pond to be something different...it's a 1 acre rock edged BOW - water clarity good to excellent, fairly deep (max of 16 with average above 8 feet) steep sides, clean watershed with little in the way of ag runoff etc. We use it mostly for swimming. Built 10+ years ago, prior to my purchase of the property.

Fish population is messed up to say the least. Very top heavy. There was an initial stocking of CC years ago, they're all in the 7-12 lb range at this point. They are the top predators AFAIK. There is little structure in the pond, I've added some Christmas trees this year and plan to do some more structure work later on. Have caught LMB, GSF, CC and HBG out of it, all large and not high quantity.

My future goal would be to stock it with SMB and YP. Maybe a couple of HSB just for fun.

So I'm starting down the road of getting most if not all of the fish out of it. Right now I'm going with the hook and line approach.




In about 45 minutes of fishing with a buzz bait Sunday evening I caught 19 LMB, from 1/2 lb to 2 lb. All of them but maybe 3 were undernourished to downright skinny. I would guesstimate 3 of them were 'healthy' looking. They were all removed.

I'm going to attempt to remove all the LMB and CC I can catch, fishing 4-5 evenings a week. I'm trying to decide if this will be 'good enough' or should I just go ahead and get the trash pump started?

When you get tired of fishing, fire up the trash pump. I doubt that you'll catch 'em all.

Wow 19 bass on a buzzbait! No matter how big that would be fun!! Just have fun doing it!

RC

esshup that's sort of what I was thinking...but do I actually have to catch all of them? I'm not necessarily shooting for a 'pristine' fishery, I just want something different. I love the fight of SMB and I know that they won't coexist well with LMB in a small pond. If I catch, let's say 80% of the LMB and all the CC's (I don't think there's more than a dozen CC left - they are feed trained and the water is clear enough to get a good count) will the mortality still be so high as to basically be providing expensive fish food when I add the SMB and LP?

RC it was/is a LOAD of fun...I love topwater fishing...having that lure get busted is an awesome feeling.

SMB fingerlings are expensive as it is and buying larger ones makes them extremely expensive. Just a handful of 12" LMB could really hammer the SMB fingerlings you would stock.

I'd have a bunch of fun hammering the LMB, CC and others until you're tired of it and then renovate the pond completely. One thing, it'll be really interesting to really see what was in the pond and the knowledge is very interesting and would great of you to share with us. Then, knowing exactly what you have put in means the future of success of the pond is far more likely. If you already have the trash pump, make it happen... A little hydrated lime for the remaining puddles and you are set.

Pellet trained SMB and YP will make far an excellent fishery.

what does hydrated lime do?

I agree with what CJ said. Hydrated lime (if enough is used) will raise the pH enough to kill the remaining fish.

You'd be suprised how many fish you won't be able to catch!