Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations need to remove more small LMB?

First of all, I want to thank ya'll for all the info. Since I started visiting the Pond Boss forum, I've learned alot about how to manage my pond. With that said, I have a 7 acre pond in northern Mississippi. For several years I noticed an abundance of small/stunted lmb. As ya'll have recommended, I've been on a mission to remove as many of these fish as possible. This year I've begun to see the results from my intensive harvest. I've caught more larger, healthier bass. And I caught one bass weighing around 8 lbs. In late May, I started feeding my BG with the only fish food available: floating pellets for catfish. The BG are finally learning to eat it, and of course the catfish and turtles are eating it as well. Also, I continue to remove as many other species as possible, including the catfish and crappie. My goal is to make this pond a LMB/BG fishery. Since the other species are very limited, I think my goal is realistic in the near future. NOW for the big question: Should I continue to remove the small bass? Originally, I was removing bass in the 10" - 14" range. Now it appears I don't have many of that size, but I am seeing bass a little smaller.

memphis, I'd take a look in the archives at the relative weight chart for LMB. Print it out, and take it with you the next time you're fishing. Compare the LMB that you're catching with the chart. I'd continue to remove the fish that are under 90% WR (relative weight) or so.

I'd continue to fish for crappie, removing every one. Just a few left in the pond, if left unchecked, could result in a population explosion if the spawning conditions are right.

The general recommendation is to remove every bass under 14 inches. That starts the 2nd year after stocking. Don't worry; you can't catch 50% of them.

Keep in mind what is recommended for a southern pond is oftrn very different than for a northern pond. Make sure you understand so you obtain the right advice for your pond.

Read these threads on PSD for guidelines which include comments from the Prof who developed the concept Richard Anderson.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=23612&page=1



http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=23960&page=1


Dick Anderson


Registered: 18/09/06
Posts: 5
Loc: TX, MO, WI

Keep taking <12 in bass until the number 8-12 equals number 12-15. Ideal pond structure is 40% 8-12, 40% 12-15 and 20% 15+

That's the info I was seeking...knowing the percentage of bass in the appropriate length classes. Since I'm not catching many bass 10" - 14", and now I'm catching alot 6" - 10", I'll work on removing those as much as possible. I'm pretty sure I have an adequate forage base of BG, so I believe I'm on the right track. Thanks for your time.