Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Should I stock some 4-6 lb bass

I have the luxury of living and fishing right between Lake Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. Within 5 miles of the boat ramp. My 2 year old pond is super heavy with bluegill. I only stocked 50 Florida lmb. Most of them spawned their very first time this last month. Most of these lmb should be about 2 pounds by now. My question is... with being overrun with blue gill should I stock some 4-6 pound or bigger lmb from one of the local reservoirs in my pond to help control some of the 8 inch cnbg? My pond is only 2 acres when full. Maybe I should wait to see if any lmb recruitment comes from the spawn. I'm not sure.

Don't do it.

You know your genetics, and LMB will over populate quickly if you don't pull the right amount. Adding larger fish has another problem, they are familiar with their old habitat and might have a hard time adjusting to your pond.

I would wait and let mother nature swing the pendulum. Be patient.

As Bob has said, you have set up the buffet, let them enjoy it.

I gotcha Brian, Thanks for the support. I need to be more patient. I am waiting until the first week in May to fish for my lmb and record their progress. Last one I actually caught was way back when they were only 12 inch long and weighed a pound. With so much for them to eat,they might get lazy knowing there is a snack there anytime they want it. I'm serious. That has crossed my mind. Have you broke your lake record yet? Isn't it around 8 pounds? What's your largest cnbg in that beautiful lake of yours?

Guessing based off the 50 Florida LMB you are mainly interested in trophy fish. I wouldn't add anything and let what you have feed and play catch up.

Maybe one of the others, or possibly Bob Lusk, can lead you to research he has done about moving mature bass of that size and larger.

If I recall correctly, they don't do well in the new environment. They lose weight rather than growing.

As for being overrun with bluegill, that is probably good for your Florida bass. It gives them plenty of forage. The YOY LMB that you have will do well the spawning activity of the bluegill and should grow fast.

Keep the bluegill happy and they will keep your LMB happy -- and growing.

No way I would do it. Being over run with BG's is a temporary matter when faced with big bass predation.

8lbs 4oz is the big pond record for now. I have not yet targeted the bigger fish this year, but I am about to!

The CNBG are doing great. We have a very large population of all size classes and I have caught CNBG close to 1.5 lbs. I am nowhere close to Allen's CNBG, but I like the diversity in our big pond.

Be patient, they are going to be happy sooner than you think!

Flame, do u see any lmb @ the feeder? I seem to have a few lmb around the feeders most days. They do not take feed but they do take cnbg. You and I are similar situation when talking lmb and cnbg with high numbers and size of the bg. I seemed to have had two cnbg spawns so far this year, based on seeing 1" cnbg. I have been hand feeding the small cnbg by tossing 1/8" feed against the shoreline. That seems to be where they feed the best and not overtaken by the larger cnbg. When feeding the small 1 to 3" bg I usually will see a lmb in the 3 lb range busting up the cnbg, heck I had one the other day that had chased a small cnbg into shallow water where I could see most all of the lmb out of the water. If you are seeing this it should give an idea on the size of your lmb.

PS, I am also concerned about lmb recruitment or should I say no recruitment due to high numbers of cnbg. I will be seining in the next 30 day to see if I have any lmb in the 2 to 3" size.

Tracy, I see no lmb at the feeder but do see one bust the shoreline every now and then. I too have had at least 2 cnbg spawns this year already. Something a little different...I am seeing "twinkling" of schools of tiny fry out in the middle of the pond. Maybe lmb fry? I wish. I still mix my feed 1/8 and 3/16. The "powder or dust"from the feeder going off also feeds the tiny fish when it blows to the bank. But it is amazing how small a fish CAN eat a 1/8 size pellet. Let me know how your seining turns out and first week of May I will let you know how my lmb fishing goes in the pond.I WILL NOT stock any lmb from the surrounding lakes. Thanks guys for the advise!!

Besides LMB what other fish do you have in your pond?

Without knowing the answer to that question, I would bet those are LMB fry out there you see. You should see a male LMB circling around those schools. If you don't, cast a top water plug with a feather trailer beyond the school, then bring it back to the school slowly and when the fry hop and move pause your retrieve, then start again to keep them hopping and moving. You should get a strike or a glimpse of the male LMB. Polarized sunglasses help see into the water.

TFS also look like that out in open water.

Do a seine survey in about a month and report your results. Its not the original stockers that require population management but rather their offspring.

No tfs. I only have cnbg,res, and Florida lmb. Have not seen a fhm in 2 years. I am excited to purchase a seine later and see what we have.