Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations When do I start keeping my bream?

I have a 1/2 acre new pond. Actually built it 2 yrs ago. Allowed it to clear up, than we established the minnow population last spring & summer. I added 65 CNBG and 35 RES last fall, then added 70 CNBG and 30 RES with 30 LMB about a month ago. The kids are catching fry in their dip nets, so I know the first stocking has spawned at least once, and the kids are starting to catch the fish from the first stocking as well. They are hand sized, plenty big enough to eat. So far I have made the kids release what they have caught. My question is, when should I start keeping the bream? Should I let those adults spawn again before we start keeping them, or am I good to go? I also was planning to stock another batch like the last one this summer. Do you guys think I need another batch, or am I good to go with what I have stocked so far?

You can start transferring the babies from the first spawn to hot grease.

How big were the LMB at stocking ? I would not take out any adult BG/RES for at least 2 years. Then harvest mid size fish not the biggest.

I did not keep any for 4 years but I have some larger LMB to contend with. Then last year I only kept ones in the 7 to 8.5 inch range. This year we are keeping anything under 9 inches. All others go back to spawn and feed my LMB!! You need to be careful 30 LMB in a 1/2 acre pond could eat you clean!! You don't want to take out your mature BG and RES that are feeding them.

RC

My LMB were about 2-3" when I put them in. That was 6 weeks ago. I was surprised how big and fat my CNBG and RES are, considering that they were stocked at 1-2" in late September. The most interesting thing is that the kids can only get the bream to bite on minnows. They have tried crickets and worms with no luck. I have never seen bream feed so aggressively on minnows before.

You added them last fall right? So if you go by what Eric says you got to wait till fall of 2016 before you start taking any out! Well you don't have to but that's what he is saying you should do. The good thing is those originals will always be to big for them bass to eat so you don't want to cull them that's for sure at least not to many of them. Before you know it your mid size will be big enough to eat and your originals will be Super Fly!!! Fun fun to catch!!!

RC

And so will those bass!!

If Eric says it, you can believe it.