Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Inherited Pond

I recently purchased a property in Kentucky. It has a small (1/8 acre)? pond on it. Last year I used non-toxic herbicides to reduce (kill) the abundance of cattails, algea and weeds. Pond looks better and is generally clear to 2ft. Actual depth is not known but I estimate 6-8ft. Water quality is good (tested this fall) and I know I have a snapping turtle, frogs and mudbugs.

There is zero minnow or fish activity on the shores and I do not see top water activity.

This winter I did verify (with worm and hook) that I have some Green Sunfish. I have caught 3 (within 30 min) all were 2-3" long.

Question I have is why were all three small and was it the same one over and over again (different parts of the pond).

Since it came with the property I have no idea what else is in there and do not want to stock an already stocked pond.

Previous owner left it to its own devices for last 5-8 yrs..not sure if it was ever stocked. It is fed by watershed (not creek fed).

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

This is my first pond that actually holds water year-round.

Don't need trophy fish, just something to keep me occupied a few days a month.

Welcome to Pond Boss. I have one about that size. Consider adding some fatheads minnows, about 50 four to six inch channel cats, and a feeder.

Mine is about 40 years old and the last 2 cats look like Moby Dick the whale.

Welcome to Pond Boss!!

There's a lot of fun things you can do with the pond.

As Dave says, if you actually feed the fish a good quality fish feed, you can vastly expand the range of options that you can explore.

Also, it takes a lot of observation time, as well as fishing time, and other methods to get the best idea of what all kinds of fish may be in the pond. Some might want to get the best idea possible before embarking on a stocking plan, whereas others may just opt to stock some new fish and see what happens.

From my experience with a similar pond, green sunfish are probably dominating the water and have started stunting size wise due to overcrowding. It's typical in a small pond that was previously used to water cattle or something or the sort.

If you add some adult bluegill and cater to them with nesting material/sites, structure, fish feed, etc...the bluegill will eventually out perform the green sunfish.

Adding predators such as 10-12 inch bass or 10 inch channel catfish will thin the green sunfish numbers quickly. If you're overrun with green sunfish, which it sounds like you may be, the bass will flourish until they begin depleting their food source. That's why it's important to also establish the bluegill population at the same time. Bluegill spawn multiple times and readily accept fish feed making them ideal forage suppliers for your bass.

If you choose to just go catfish/bluegill you can still have a really nice setup. The catfish will prey on the stunted green sunfish and accept feed too.

Regardless, don't skimp on nesting material/sites, structure, and fish feed for the bluegill. Cater to them whatever you choose to do.

I am NOT an expert, but have been following the history of many ponds on this site for a long time.

If you want a pond that most closely aligns with your goals, then the best solution is to drain the pond (and poison if needed) and start with a blank slate. You can then at least control your starting inputs and when you start to observe a problem, it will be relatively easy for the experts here to help you determine the cause.

IMO, that is MUCH easier in terms of money and your labor than trying to "fix" a pond with some unknowable parameters.

However, that solution is certainly very anti-naturalist!

The "start over" solution will kill all of the fish, all of the tadpoles, all of the aquatic insects, etc. The turtles, adult frogs, adult insects, etc. will still be around to re-populate the pond after it re-fills.

If you were really worried about those critters, then you could drain the pond to a tiny puddle, and then seine out the creatures to be saved and then move them to another body of water.

I deliberately wrote this post as a "stark choice". I wanted you to make a clear-eyed decision BEFORE you put in a lot of effort on your new pond.

Congrats on your new pond. I hope you and your family get lots of future enjoyment!

Thanks for the advice from all. I was hoping not to have an over-run issue with the Green Sunfish, I would be happy if the average size of the Greenies was 4-6". That way when I have a free hour I could fly fish for a few minutes.

I am still developing the new property and between fences, barns, decks and general maintenance (horses, dogs, house) walking out to the pond for a few minutes seems a better use of my time than an hour to a large lake.

Structure and bedding for BlueGill is not going to be an issue, I did not strip the weeds and forage (just reduced). This spring I will keep fishing and see what else comes up.

Moving forward I think some Fathead minnows (if I can find a supplier near me) and maybe a couple transfer fish from the river (Bass, Catfish, Bluegill) will be my plan.

Not interested in draining or setting up a feeder. Just a small pond to kill some time on.

Hopefully I ran off the muskrats that appeared last winter...if not that is what a .22 is for.

Yes see the thread below - structure archive for ideas. There are FH structure pics included.

https://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92463#Post92463

Your second post greatly clarifies the parameters for the level of effort you want, and the results you want for your pond.

If you go the 'bucket' stocking method (catching fish elsewhere and bringing them to your pond), a general rule is that river or stream fish don't do as well in non-running water bodies (and vice versa although most don't take fish from a pond and put them in a river). So, your best case would be to catch fish from another pond, or lake.

With bucket stocking, there is always a risk of transporting other organisms into your pond that tagged along with the fish. There are some ways to mitigate that.

Also, make sure that it's legal, as some states have specific rules for the same (for me, I would just be careful, and not obvious about it).

Regarding feed, you don't have to have a automatic feeder to get the benefits/enjoyment out of it. If just walking to the pond is enjoyable now, it will be even better if you throw a cup of feed out and observe the action.

All good times!!

I am leaning towards the bucket method and will keep the numbers very small (one or two fish). I have been fishing on and off for 40yrs so any obvious unhealthy fish will not be moved. Transplanting fish is never really "legal" in any state I have researched so neighbors' ponds will probably be best.

The river I am thinking about is basically a lake, very slow moving (if at all at summer levels), multiple dams. If I can get access to a pond I will go that route.

I have already tried the feeding of dog food and bread with no luck on action. I was actually surprised to catch the Green Sunfish this winter.

Not looking to harvest unless necessary, just looking for some relaxing time near the water.


Question...do Green Sunfish self-populate? Is it possible that all I have is Green Sunfish that populated off eggs carried by birds and frogs?

I think it odd to only have one species of fish.

It takes time for any fish to start hitting feed.

If you stock some LMB, I would also stock some bluegill. If it was me, for every LMB stocked, I'd add 10-15 bluegill. Bluegill take to feed very quickly. LMB take longer, and some never take to feed.

If you were able to sex the LMB, it would be best to only have one sex, and IIRC, female LMB generally grow larger than male LMB.


'...do Green Sunfish self-populate?" - Green Sunfish are so prevalent that they certainly could have been the 'first' fish in your pond, having arrived by a high water event, or perhaps introduced by a human, or birds (jury's out on that one). Without knowing the stocking history of your pond, it's not possible to say. The pond could have been stocked with pure bluegill and devolved into Green Sunfish over many years, somehow.

Update...spring has arrived and after a hard-winter freeze that turned my pond into a skating rink I have determined that it is adequately deep enough (at least 6ft). After the freeze I have caught 3 Green Sunfish and one Bluegill. They only hit worms (not hot dog, bread or salmon eggs). However all are the same 2-3". This leads me to believe I have an overpopulation of panfish.

Time to get some Bass or Catfish..