Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing after ice out, tips

fishing an SE IN pond, 1 acre , ice has been gone for a couple weeks, stocked with CC,BG, HBG, crappie, LMB . weather has been pretty stable last 3 or 4 days, hi 60, low in the 30's...

any tips for fishing? Thought small jigs, wax worms, probably not messing with minnows. Bass I thought soft plastics fished slow.

First time fishing the property, family now owns the pond but it is new to us and this is the first fishing season. Not my pond, so I will not manage , but if so would probably remove every crappie caught and CC, take inventory on the LMB , BG etc, and add some feed trained HSB for fun... but this will be a pond mostly for kids, so catching fish is the main goal.

Typically live bait is king when the water is cold. Limit handling of bass and bluegills in cold water, as their immune systems are below optimum in cold water. They are more likely to develop fungus in cold water, if grab the entire fish by the hand, and compromise the mucous layer. If you have to, wet your hands or use rubber gloves.

Pull your fish out of the water by the hook or lip. Barbless hooks (crimp down the barb with needle nose pliers) make it easier and quicker to remove hooks.

Many bass anglers don't believe the propensity of bass to develop fungus from handling in cold water, but you will find most fish farmers will not seine their bass ponds in water colder than 50 F. I know one just one that does with his feed trained bass, but he urges his customers to get them on feed asap as they are in a weakened state after a long winter.

makes sense, I don't do much fishing this early in the year usually but good idea on handling the fish. I will try and report what we catch etc and maybe get a management plan for the pond but like I said not sure what all will be done with it or how involved I will be...