Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing Pressure?

Hey everyone I have a quick question about fishing pressure and what everyone thinks is to much. I have a 1 acre pond. I have RES, BG, and LMB and about 20 HSB in it. What does everyone consider to much fishing pressure on a 1 acre pond such as mine for said fish. I just want to make sure I don't over fish it and my fish become to smart for their own good!

Thanks,
RC

Great question, RC!

I fish mine daily, if not twice a day. I was mainly doing it to try and rid my pond of BCP (over 1400 culled since I started counting 4-27-13), and although still catching some BCP I'm catching more BG and LMB. They don't seem to have become hook-shy but I've wondered the same thing.

For never fishing ponds prior to having one, I'm definately hooked

LL thanks,

Yeah I am not really sure if once a week or twice is to much for a 1 acre pond? Once every 2 weeks? I know the less fished the better off you will be but if we had to put a pressure number to it what would that be?

Anyone?

RC

A lot of variables with this question and I would venture to say it may be different for every pond, depending on existing species, goals, reproduction, etc.

Are you talking catch and release RC? We know that scenario can make for some hook shy fish, but I wouldn't have any idea of a ballpark "safe" figure to even throw out there.

I agree with sprkplug. If catch and keep, the only thing that I see happening over a long period of time is that you remove the fish that are most agressive towards lures. If C&R, then I think catching the same fish 2-3 times a year might smarten then up. I think a lot depends on the individual fish, and the species, in addition to whay you are using for a lure/bait.

I have a lot of experience in this area and something we monitor closely with all 56 lakes we lease. Like the other responses "It Depends". The biggest variables are how long you fish, how many people fish, how good a fisherman you or your friends are, and rather you have native or Florida bass. On lakes 20 acres or larger we fish no more than 3 days a week; usually once or twice a week or even less. Our smallest lakes are 10 acres and the florida bass wise up real quick if you fish much more than twice a week.

If I had to throw out a figure I would not fish a 1 acre pond with Florida bass no more than twice a month, assuming 1 person fishing for 3 or 4 hours. If you had only northern bass, you could probably double this figure.

Yes I am talking C&R at this point. I have some Florida bass and some Northern, but what about the BG as well.

For my LMB I typically use a floating worm, or a BG on a hook. Maybe a Pop R. I don't fish real hard for them though.

BG I use worms, or AM600 on a hook. Small Frogs.

We will start keeping some of our BG this next spring in the 6 to 8 inch range.

During hunting season October through December my pond won't get fished until spring. It's from about March till July is when my pond gets most it's fishing pressure from me, my 2 boys, and my mom and dad. So I just wanted to know how I should regulate it better this coming spring time. To get the best quality fishing time when we do go?

Thanks,
RC

A warm afternoon on a sunny pre-spawn spring day might just be my favorite. At that time of year, burning a chartreuse Roostertail (1/16 oz or so) parallel to the bank will drive those small bass crazy. It will also catch the larger BG. On my pond, you can catch up to 15 fish per hour, per angler on those days.

I think you will find more than a couple hours a week on average on a 1 acre pond will lead to fairly hook shy fish. Think about it... The average pond supports at most 100 pounds of LMB per acre. Even if you go with the small average of 1 pound LMB. That means you only have roughly 100 LMB in your pond. If you only catch 3 per hour, that is 6 per week. You're going to catch pretty much every bass at least once a year. Within a couple years they are gonna get smart... Within 5 years, your larger bass will be near impossible to catch on artificials.

Well I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I have my LMB for keeping my BG in check more than anything, but with that said how hook smart do BG get? Say 8 to 10 BG do they get fairly smart too? Or can I just wait a couple weeks and get them to bite again? Are they hook smart like LMB are? Or HSB?

RC

I think BG are nearly as smart of LMB. The difference is a pond can support 10 times as many BG as bass, so there are far more BG to take the pressure...

Bluegills can be hook shy too. I once caught and transported a bunch of BG from a bedding area. I could not catch them again on the same lure that they were caught on the first time. Not even a year later. Other lures, yes, but not the same lure. (1/100th jighead and 1" white twister tail)

I have worn out a few lures over the years.

A savy fisherman knows when its time to change his presentation.

I find BG very susceptible to becoming hook shy. And while there should be more of them, compared to LMB in a balanced pond, how many of those are the 8-10" fish targeted by most anglers? I have seen many instances where the BG refuse to take an angler's "standard" presentation, but will accept something new....for a little while. Those big BG figure it out in short order.

Yes BG exhibit catachability problems jut like LMB. Its genetic also so removing the ones that bite leaves you with fish that are hard to catch.

So, if I'm understanding this correctly, not much can be done about this? It is said to fish less often, however what if you need to fish the pond to keep numbers in check for management?

If you fish, the ones that bite first will always be the catchable ones. If you C&R them, they will get smart. If you keep them, the ones left are hard to catch, creating a genetic line of tough to catch. Seems like a no-win situation. OR, is other methods of harvest a good way to go, like trapping, netting, etc? Would that re-establish the balance of catchabilty?

What is the point of having a pond and not fishing in it because "fish might become too smart"? It's like for hungry person having a tasty snack on the table and sitting near it for 3 hours till 8 PM because "books say that you should eat at 8 PM - it's better for your stomach".

If you keep these fish then think about adding some additional fish after some time.
If you C&R then everything is OK. Mortatily rate shouldn't be high if release is done carefully. Sure, fish might become smarter but is that SO BIG problem? You will have to improve your fishing skills and I don't see anything bad in that.

I think this is an awesome discussion. I've been thinking for quite some time now that BG will become acclimated to an angler's usual presentations, especially in an atmosphere of relatively heavy fishing pressure, combined with C+R. Even the recent articles and discussions concerning the PB trip to Richmond Mill, and the affinity of the BG's for a particular bait and method on this trip compared to earlier visits, has me wondering if we're seeing this phenomenon there, similar to what can occur on a smaller BOW.

This has been a very interesting thread!

To add to FnC's questions, it makes one wonder just how hook-shy (or smart) they get with the first catch? As an example, to sample my HSB for growth I will use a pellet-fly (AM600 wrapped in pantyhose) during feeding and will catch LMB as well as HSB. Once caught, is that LMB or HSB going to shy away from pellets/feeding?

And,This one's pretty discouraging (although I don't have Florida Bass), to think I should only fish my pond once a week?

With goals of raising big LMB, HSB and BG for the sole purpose of catching them, it would take great restraint, which I don't think I'd have, to have a 2-acre pond in my backyard and not fish it! But it also makes perfectly good sense that the best fishing pond is the one rarely fished.

Just another factor to consider in having that "balanced" pond!

Great thread and great info!

PB Rocks!

PS - Grundulis and Sprkplug got their posts in while I was typing mine, so sorry for any redundancy.

Hey thanks everyone for the input! And to think I almost didn't ask the question as I felt kind of stupid asking it! I am glad I did now. I will be starting to harvest some of my BG this next spring in the 6 to 8 inch range my mom and dad will be here for 3 months as we work on the cabin and I just don't want to over fish the pond. I love to fish with my parents it's a blast but at the same time I need to be able to set some ground rules for them to try and follow.

One would think if you started to keep some of the 8 inchers you would make more room for the 5 to 6 inchers to grow up and take their place and not be as hook shy? I suppose there is always going to be that 10 to 12 inch hard to catch fish. That's what makes fishing fun I reckon if I caught a monster every time it wouldn't be near as exciting when I do catch one!!

Thanks everyone
RC

Ok. So take this scenario RC51 is talking about. He wants to manage his pond and take some 5" - 6" BG. You can't tell me that you won't catch some LMB with that, or some other types of fish that are present. You don't want to take the LMB out for management purposes(possibly because of their size) and you release them. Now that fish gets hook smart. It gets bigger and starts foraging on the other fish you want to protect. You now have to find it and catch it. In that process I could see you catching many LMB that are not ready to come out and returning them. You finally catch that big one, but at what cost to making that many more fish hook-shy. It seems like the whole process contributes to the hook-shyness problem and will get worse over time. Might it be necessary once in a while to go on a management program where all fish are kept and those you didn't want to keep are replaced by new ( and preferably of the same size)?

In my opinion, I don't think the hook-shy process is quite that instantaneous, nor does it encompass every fish in the BOW. I do certainly believe that some species, (and maybe individuals within the same species), are more prone to becoming hook shy than others.

While I do believe in the existence of hook shy fish, I also think that there are many other factors that influence feeding behavior, and the general "catchability" of fish during certain times and environmental conditions.

I also tend to agree that changing up one's game can provide for some excellent and productive outings. I think a lot of anglers tend to stick with what has worked in the past, instead of experimenting with something new, or taking the time to find out what the fish "wants" to see.. But that is strictly opinion.

We have been fishing our pond with the same lure since mid-summer and catching a few fish here and there. I have managed to catch the same fish twice on the same day... with two different fish. Can easily tell by the hole in the lip. One perch, one black crappie.

So it is another case of "it depends". I would assume that if food is easy in a pond (fed pond) the fish can afford to be picky and get hook shy. If the pond is very competitive, the fish are hungry, and anything that twitches is consumed first tasted last, they will tend not to be hook shy.

Oh, and it only makes sense "to change up one's game". I am saving the live bait for when my fish mature and have successfully spawned at least once.

I agree to some degree feeding will play a role for sure. And if need be I an not above turning the feeder off for a few days if it comes down to that.

RC