Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Harvesting/Culling Spotting high potential Males?

I am going to pick up my harvesting efforts. I know to have a 1lb+ BG pond that already has a ton of BG and LMB i need to: Cull all females caught, and all 14"+ LMB

My question is, beside trying to find sneaker males, which i think i got that and have spotted a couple. My though is, males at let's say 8.5" and less that have large elongated opercular flaps, should be culled as "less potential" males, is there any truth to that?

My philosophy is to keep the biggest male BG and (for genetics) the very biggest females. Everything smaller than the current slot limits comes out. Size limits are reviewed and possibly revised at least once a year, depending on the physical size of the BG population.

In my LMB/BG pond, I am currently keeping males 8" and up and females 9" and up. Both sexes are running as large as 9.5" base don this years fishing.

My suggestion would be to harvest (assuming it is needed) smaller males who do not look in top condition and females of the same type. But with LMB in the mix you will be removing their food source. A good population analysis is the best starting point. I have never heard that longer ear flaps has any significance to culling. Usually, ear flap length has more to do with age and condition.

I would say no.

I know this is a HBG, but going by the opercular flap, would you consider this one to have "less potential"?



FWIW, it's 12.5" and