Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking BCP MANAGEMENT IDEAS

Population Characteristics of Black Crappies in
South Dakota Waters: A Case for Ecosystem-
Specific Management
Christopher S. Guy & David W. Willis
To cite this article: Christopher S. Guy & David W. Willis (1995) Population
Characteristics of Black Crappies in South Dakota Waters: A Case for Ecosystem-Specific
Management, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 15:4, 754-765, DOI:
10.1577/1548-8675(1995)015<0754:PCOBCI>2.3.CO;2


Black crappies commonly overpopulated small
South Dakota impoundments. Some authors have
suggested that crappies overpopulate small impoundments
because recruitment is relatively consistent
(Bums 1956; Jenkins 1958). Thus, growth,
size structure, and condition are poor in small impoundments
overpopulated with black crappies.
Gabelhouse (1984a) and Boxrucker (1987) found
that a high-density population of large mouth bass,
composed primarily of individuals less than 30 cm
long, could reduce crappie recruitment such that
surviving crappies reached sizes of interest to anglers.
Guy and Willis (1990, 1991b) documented
reduced recruitment of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus
and yellow perch in small South Dakota
impoundments with high-density largemouth bass
populations. They suggested that fisheries managers
could manage for quality bluegill and yellow
perch fisheries in small South Dakota impoundments
by maintaining a high-density largemouth
bass population, with most largemouth bass less
than 30 cm. We surmise that high-quality black
crappie populations could be developed in small
South Dakota impoundments containing a highdensity
largemouth bass population. However, the
habitat must be appropriate to establish a highdensity
largemouth bass population (Guy and Willis
1991c). Guy and Willis (1994) stated that crappie
populations in South Dakota's large reservoirs
and natural lakes were influenced primarily by environmental
factors.

Interesting information I have a large population of LMB but my BCP is declining probably due to the large LMB and 8-10” and smaller.i would prefer to have more BCP than LMB but looks like the other way around at this point. Any ideas how to juggle the numbers to get a few more BCP or wait til they have a good spawn

Pat, I have exactly the same situation. My BCP are 12+in. and not many smaller and lots of LMB. We do harvest most all LMB less than 14 in. Maybe that's backwards and we should be harvesting the larger bass. I am not sure how well our BCP spawn but our LMB have no issues with that at all. I am considering adding some 8+ in. BCP this spring but that may be counter productive if I can't figure out the problem.

I knew there was someone out there that liked BCP. Lol they are hard to figure out but I’m hoping to get them figured out eventually. We gonna need all the brains out here to do this. Maybe someone with experience with BCP can help us out with what to remove or add as far as LMB. I also have CC and BC that are 5-7#

We also have CC, with the largest caught was last fall at 13.5 lb. Our pond is a 10 A. rock quarry. The one thing that has always confused me is any time we catch a BCP they are very healthy and nothing thin like we catch in the Mississippi or lakes near us. Our BG are different age classes to show good recruitment over the years. The last few years we have added a lot of structure both in shallow and deep water but does not seem to help our BCP. From what I read maybe we should consider ourselves lucky but in 10 years nothing has changes with our Crappies.

so your saying your 5 acre pond has a creek flowing into it? arnt u afraid of trahs fish ruining it?like bullheads gsf bowfin gar ect

Nah it’s a seasonal creek only nothing but sand.... water at times