Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Where are my LMB?

Where are my LMB?

My ponds are in NW Indiana. Both are approximately 1 acre large and up to 14 feet deep. Both are fed from ground water, which is not unusual for NW Indiana ponds. But they therefore fluctuate in depth – 6 feet this year alone. Both ponds are made mostly of sand with some clay and gravel. Also both ponds have air diffusers powered by Koenders EL compressors, 24/7. Blue herons and snapping turtles have been observed at both ponds. But not otters or cormorants.

One pond is dedicated for SMB and the other pond is dedicated for LMB. Standing on the bank of my SMB pond is very entertaining as you can watch the SMB “hunt” for small fish. There is a lot of splashing and you can see the SMB forming “hunting parties.” Standing on the bank of my LMB pond is less entertaining. You can watch Pumpkinseed Sunfish hovering over their nests, schools of BG hanging out. And a ton off small fish “frolicking” near the shore or out on the middle of the pond. But no splashing. No “hunting parties” of LMB. Nothing!

The following is the history of the LMB pond:

Completed in 2010

September 2010:

275 Paper Shell Crayfish

12 lb Fathead Minnows

October 2010:

200 Bluegill Sunfish 2.5-3"

June 2011:

49 lb Fathead Minnows

5 lb Golden Shiners

July 2011:

97 Pumpkinseed Sunfish 1-3"

March 2012:

18 lb Fathead Minnows

September 2012:

13.5 lb Fathead Minnows

52 Largemouth Bass 3-4”

April 2013:

106 Golden Shiners

June 2013:

85 Pumpkinseed Sunfish 1-3"


When we fish, we get Bluegills and Pumpkinseed. No LMB.


We did a Fyke Net Survey in the LMB pond. Here are the results:

6-1-2013:

Bluegills: Qty. 20 Size: 5” to 7.25” Body condition good. Females still carrying eggs.

Bluegills: Qty. 13 Size: 2” to 5” Body condition good. Both Males and Females; too small to spawn.

Pumpkinseeds. Qty. 2 Size: 5”-6” Body condition good. Males

Golden Shiners Qty. 8 Size: 4”- 7” Good condition

6-2-2013:

Bluegills 5”-7 ½” 6 fish. 5 Males 1 Female

Bluegills 1 ½” – 3” 207 fish

Pumpkinseeds 4”-6” 10 fish

Pumpkinseeds 2 ¼” long 1 fish

Golden Shiners 4”-5” 8 fish

Papershell Crayfish 1 4 ½” long


Minnow Traps on 6-2-2013:

63 GSH 2 ½” – 4”

51 FHM 2 1 ½” BG

Obviously I do not expect any LMB in the Fyke Net. But I expect of the (52) LMB at least as much action as from (60) SMB.

I am very frustrated. Where are my LMB? How come I cannot see them like the SMB?

Please explain this to me.

Thank you.

Regards,
FRIZ

That was a very low number of small LMB to stock in a 1 acre pond, I think. EDIT: ...and be able to easily see them, I should add.

You said (52) LMB, right?

Seems the LMB have lots of food and might not be that active because they do not need to be. I think SMB tend to be more school oriented and have a less lazy feeding pattern than LMB, perhaps thats why you are seeing SMB. The LMB probably are just hanging around a structure and picking off something when they are hungry.

Here in southern Mississippi they recommend 50 LMB fingerlings per acre for an un-fertilized pond.

I have seen this on my 1 acre pond as well! I can bet they are there. I have so many BG and RES that they can eat now that I rarely see my LMB. I have a hard time catching them as well.

I did what DD1 always tells everyone to try when the bass bite is slow and it worked within 15 minutes.

I put a 2 ought hook on a line and chunked out a 4 inch BG I caught. It wasn't 15 minutes later and my pole almost left my boat without me!! Had a nice 3 pounder on swallowed the hook and all which sucked but I found out they are there. Just not near as active as SMB even more so when it starts to get warmer out!

RC

djstauder, I know what you mean, but when you think about 50 fish, maybe now 6-7" long, in an acre of water, you may not see them so easily.

One thing I keep relearning with ponds is that the more time you spend watching, the more you see. And there's a threshold...meaning if you spend too little time, you will never see anything.

Sunil is dead on with that remark. I don't live at my pond so I don't see a whole lot of action, but when my parents are there staying in the camper they see all kinds of stuff I never get to see!

Plus like he said 7 inch LMB don't take up much room. You could put 50 of those in a 150 gallon tank and transport no problem and you have them in a 1 acre pond so I would say be patient. They are going to get fat and sassy fairly quick with that much food in there!

RC

Your LMB are 1 yr. in place. You are in a northern climate. I bet you are on course to meet your goal. One key is have you seen any LMB fry . Yours may not spawn at 1 but wait until 2 (and or 10-12 inches). 50 LMB is good for an acre. Proper ranges are 30-100 depending on the goal and location. Check as per RC's suggestion. With your size LMB try a small jig with a real worm (or SS worm). They are there and I bet in good condition.

Gentlemen, thank you for your responses.

In another 1 acre pond (I have four ponds in total), I had a ton of Fathead Minnows, Golden Shiners, Yellow Perch, Redear Sunfish and Green Sunfish. We had no problems observing two LMB “hunting” near the shore. As I hate Green sunfish, last year, I decided to empty that pond and start all over again. We pumped it dry.

Guess what we found:

A ton of Fathead Minnows, Golden Shiners, Yellow Perch, Redear Sunfish, Green sunfish and two (yes 2) LMB 12-13”.

FRIZ, was this third pond stocked the same way and same times?

Sunil, the following is the history of the “third pond”:

Completed in 2008

June 2010:

50 Redear Sunfish 2-4”

50 Redear Sunfish 4-6”

5 lb Fathead Minnows

5 lb Golden Shiners

45 Mosquito Fish

September 2010:

125 Paper Shell Crayfish

2 lb Fathead Minnows

25 Redear Sunfish 2-4”

October 2010:

200 Yellow Perch 2-2.5”

October 2011:

20 Rainbow trout 2lb

November 2011:

100 hybrid striped bass 10-12”

Winter 2012

Fish kill. Most HSB die. Most others survive.

Fall 2012

We pumped it dry.

Green sunfish and the two LMB were presents from Santa. I did not put them in the pond.

Amazing how fish species hitch hike in with other stocked species.

All those stocking plans show knowledge and discipline...nice work!

For the third pond, why the extended period between completion and the first stocking?

I was educating myself.

But please explain this to me. Where are my LMB?

Thank you.

Regards,
FRIZ

Being lazy by being fat and happy.