Forums36
Topics41,010
Posts558,491
Members18,529
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
10 members (andrew davis, Angler8689, Bigtrh24, highflyer, catscratch, Boondoggle, Waxaholic, Theo Gallus, Fishingadventure, canyoncreek),
1,301
guests, and
581
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
What do you guys consider the right length for removing bass? As a guideline I've heard 12-15 inches.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930 Likes: 2
|
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,930 Likes: 2 |
get ready for it....................
It depends!
what are you trying to acheive with your pond and or Bass....
The experts will offer some suggestions.......
Goofing off is a slang term for engaging in recreation or an idle pastime while obligations of work or society are neglected........... Wikipedia
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
Well first off I know I have too many bass. So I need to get as many out as I can. Really I just want to have quality bass. I'm not trying to produce world record bass. I would much rather have quality over quantity. So removing bass and keeping ample forage is what I'm concerened about. But I have no clue as to what size bass need to removed.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,068 Likes: 280
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,068 Likes: 280 |
Anything under about 14 inches. However, if you find one that is a little below that line but is in really good shape, I might keep it.
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: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,604 Likes: 861
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,604 Likes: 861 |
Well first off I know I have too many bass. So I need to get as many out as I can. Really I just want to have quality bass. I'm not trying to produce world record bass. I would much rather have quality over quantity. So removing bass and keeping ample forage is what I'm concerened about. But I have no clue as to what size bass need to removed. It's not the size, it's the weight. Look in the archives for the relative weight chart for LMB. If your LMB are stunted (under RW by a lot) then remove around 30# per surface acre this year of the LMB that are 15% - 20% (or more) underweight for their length. Wait a month or so after they've gone off the beds to get a more representative weight.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
What do you guys consider the right length for removing bass? As a guideline I've heard 12-15 inches. I would keep the size of bass that are your most abundant, 12-15" is a good guideline but removing some smaller and some larger might be required. As Bill Cody would say, "it depends..."
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
I found the chart. Thanks for the info guys. I'll post back what I find. Is this a pretty common problem?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,604 Likes: 861
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,604 Likes: 861 |
More common than you realize. In my personal pond, I fight it constantly. C&R is nice, but LMB can overeat their food source pretty quickly. It takes approximately 10 pounds of fish to put one pound of weight on one LMB. That's why pond owners with LMB in their ponds need to stay on top of them and watch their condition.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
I would consider any LMB under 8-9" in length as potential forage if larger LMB are present.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
So do you over stock you baitfish? Or just try to keep them breeding good and protected?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
Breeding good and fewer predators competing to eat the baitfish.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
I'm working on both of those. Building structure for baitfish out of pallets and other things I can find.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
What kind of forage base do you have?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
Fat head minnows and BG. There's some other kind of perch as well. I don't think it's red ear. But the bass have put a hurtin on the BG. I want to stock tilapia after I get the bass under control. But at this point pretty much everything is just an idea until I get the bass under control.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
The fathead minnows won't last, they are not very predator smart. I would concentrate on feeding your BG and improving spawning areas for the BG, pea gravel in shallow water works well.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 339
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 339 |
I sort of inherited the same type pond. Bass heavy because no one has been fishing it. I took the advice of these great guys. Getting smaller bass out makes good sense. The less bass in the pond, the more food for the other bass. And its free and its fun.
But this is for what you want, bigger bass.
I think the experts that want really big bluegills say keep small bass in the pond.
Free expert fishing tips. Just call BR-549.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
Yeah I've gotten a lot of great ideas of spawning structure from here! Tons go good advice. It used to have black crappie but I haven't caught any in a good while. As far as forage for bass besides tilapia any ideas? After I get the bass under control obviously.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 339
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 339 |
As far as forage for bass besides tilapia any ideas? After I get the bass under control obviously. Lots of good ideas on here about bass forage. Golden shiners, crayfish, frogs, etc. Obviously your bass are eating bluegills. In a well balanced pond, just LMB and BGs, sometimes a bass can get up over 10 lbs, even in a small pond. I have no clue about tilapia for LMB forage. Srj79, What state are you talking about?
Free expert fishing tips. Just call BR-549.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
Texas, the reason I said tilapia is because I have read on here that they can help control FA. And reproduce a lot. It's a 1 acre pond.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,760 Likes: 34
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,760 Likes: 34 |
Tilapia usually die out in the fall once water temperatures fall below a certain point. I believe it is in the range of 50-55 degrees F. Somehow one who has more experience can answer this better.
Tilapia also convert biomass into weight. They have a similar body shape to a bluegill. So adding them is making your pond more efficient essentially. They also take pressure off of the bluegill by giving the bass another food source.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
I didn't realize they died off that easily. So what are people doing, just restocking every year?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 87
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 87 |
if you want bigger bass, the only thing i might add to this is to start getting rid of male fish every year when the fish spawn. first, a male bass really never has much of a chance of reaching lunker status. 5-6 pounds is very big for a male fish as opposed to the possibility of 8-10+ for females. the males are just robbing forage that the females could be using for nourishment and growth. second, if you cut down on the number of males, there should be less reproduction which means less small fish that will eventually have to be harvested.
the prime time to cull males is during the spawn since the male is usually the one that plays a primary role in nest defense. living in TX though, your fish are probably already post-spawn. but next year, you might wanna catch as many males off beds as possible. just a thought. good luck.
Last edited by jignpig; 04/30/14 10:13 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45
|
OP
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 45 |
That makes sense. What's the best way to tell them apart? Because I've heard tons of ways but have no idea if they hold up.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,760 Likes: 34
|
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,760 Likes: 34 |
I didn't realize they died off that easily. So what are people doing, just restocking every year? Yes. They see the advantages and willing to pay the cost.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 87
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 87 |
That makes sense. What's the best way to tell them apart? Because I've heard tons of ways but have no idea if they hold up. generally the male will be the smaller of the pair on a nest. In many cases he may be the only fish on the nest. females generally hang around on the outskirts of the nest rather than on it unless they are actually "in the act" of spawning. the male will also be the most aggressive 9 times out of 10. usually if you fish a bed and get one to bite, it's going to be the male. however, bed fishing is an entirely different animal than "regular" fishing (particularly if you use artificial baits) and requires an ability to "read" a fish's body language and ultimately aggravate it into striking. it can be very frustrating until you figure out the game. fortunately there is another great time to target the male bass and that is right after the spawn. the males will guard the fry for a few days when they hatch. if you find a fry cloud, chances are there is a male bass lurking nearby ready to pounce on anything that might be a threat to his youngsters. good luck.
Last edited by jignpig; 04/30/14 10:37 PM.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|