Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Fishing/Management Myths & Other Stories

Couldn't think of a better subject header for this topic, but I thought it'd be interesting to hear stories about people we've all ran into while trying to manage a pond for fishing.

One particular "urban myth" I've had the most resistance with is the need to remove bass in order to correct a stunted population, along with building up the forage base.

The owner of the pond I'm taking care of took a lot of convincing but eventualy came around. I had to show him actual articles on the way to correct this problem in order for him to allow me to remove bass.

What really ticks me off is a buddy of mine that I hunt and fish with. When I told him I was removing roughly 25 pounds of bass per acre to try to fix the stunting problem he got very sarcastic and continues to prod me on this subject with phrases like "Yea, make sure you take them all out before they have a chance to grow". The fact that this pond is well over 20 years old and hasn't recently been stocked with "growing" bass doesn't seem to phase him. What's it going to take, another 20 years of "waiting"?

When he heard I was stocking "small" bluegills in the pond he remarked that it already had a "healthy" population of big ones and I was going to ruin it. Other thorns he's thrown my way are "Why are you going out there ice fishing, you've already taken out all the bass".

I've recently tried to educate him a bit on the subject by showing him some printed out material from various sources on the net. He refused to look at it and said "The best thing you could do for that pond is leave it alone". Kind'a the "ignorance is bliss" approach.

I must admit this has started getting under my skin. He's a good friend of mine that I like to hunt and fish with, but I'm getting just a bit sick of his sarcastic remarks.

The real thorn in my claw over this is the fact that he acts like I don't know what I'm talking about, but yet refuses to even consider reading the material that might open his eyes a bit. This is a shame because I had planned to take him out there to fish a bit and help me manage the fish population.

He's been out there with me the first year and keeps saying to my other fishing partners that the pond is a waste of time because it only has small bass in it. So, he does admit there is a problem but then offers no solution.

I'm keeping a photographic record of the fish I'm catching out there, along with measurements and weights written down. I'm sure he won't bother to want to read any of the data, but I know he'll look at pictures and I can't wait to hear his response in a year or two when those bass are nice keepers.

I already know what he'll say, "See, I told you the bass would grow in there if you just left them alone. Let's go out there and fish." Guess what my answer is going to be to that? He's also an avid catfisherman and I can't wait to show him pictures of the stockers that will be good sized eaters this summer. He isn't about to share in the fruits of my labor when he won't even appreciate what was done.

Anyway, sorry if this message was a bit long but I needed somewhere to vent. Just about everybody I know who fishes pretty much shares the same uninformed opinion this guy has, so I needed to talk to people who know what the truth is. :') Would enjoy reading similar stories from others.

I'd find another friend. Friends tend to support you, and aren't sarcastic or negative on a continual basis. If you didn't have a pond would he still be a "friend?"

I tend to agree with Cecil. What kind of a person resists learning new things. What kind of a person argues with those who are more knowledgeable than him? What kind of a person provides endless sarcasim to a friend?

When you are wrong, change.
When you are right, don't let those who are wrong affect you.
When you are unsure, keep quite and study.

Critterhunter,

I feel your pain. You should try doing this for a living. Try this one on for size. You are hired to shock a pond, and the results are severly bass crowded (as usual). You make your recommendations to remove bass, write the report and go on your way. A year or so goes by and the client calls back and is ready to stock bluegill. You ask how many bass has he removed. Answer = none

Why someone would take the time to find a consultant, spend hard earned $ on a survey and not listen the advice is beyond me. Usually what happens is they call another consultant a week later and stock the bluegill anyway.

Or you get the "I've been bass fishing all my life" guy. Apparently, if a man goes fishing for long a enough period of time he magically learns everything there is to know about fisheries management.

I wont even get started on the fishing shows.

After 5 years in this business I can tell you this. You have the right attitude critterhunter. If you dont know you ask. Your pond and the size of your fish will benefit greatly.

there are alot of guys in the world whos egos are too big. Know-it-alls that wont listen. these are the people who catch small fish.

i have a feeling when you begin to catch some serious bass your friend will change his tune.

later

Shan O'Gorman
Pro Ponds

Another short story I'll relate. I remember reading a year or two ago about the local parks complaining of somebody stocking undersirable fish into local waters. One example specificly was a small pond recently bought by the park system that ended up having a bunch of crappie stocked in it.

One day I was fishing a local small lake when I noticed a guy catching and keeping bluegills, shiners, black and white crappie, green sunfish, and various other species in a livewell bucket he had. I got curious and asked him where he was taking these fish. He told me he was stocking them in one of the small ponds I had read the parks complaining about. I made a remark like "Oh, so you're the guy they are looking for." He smiled and said, "Yep, they hate me."

I struck up a conversation with this guy and soon found out he was even throwing shad and "white" perch in various local lakes. He also mentioned his "plan" to clean up some stunted lakes with nothern pike.

My thoughts immediately went back to one small local lake I've fished all my life and have only recently seen schools of shad swimming in when there never were any before. What bothers me the most, however, is the spread of zebra muscles to these small lakes and ponds that he could very well be responsible for. I tried to warn him about that and he said soemthing like "Such and such ponds are already infested with them." Yea, I wonder why. This guy was "serious" about his methods and I noticed he had a large livewell going in the back cab of his truck.

Wow, that guy is an idiot. Did you get his plate number and report him by chance? I am not normally one to get in others business but the amount of damage he is and/or can be doing is tremendous. Some people just have no idea.

Critterhunter: I know your friend the fool who thinks he knows how to manage your pond while cititzing your methods.

No I don't work for Pond Boss, I even had to buy that neat hat from them. You know the one with the Green trout with attitude on the bill.

Anywat, if I were you I'd be tempted to get him a one subscription to Pond Boss.

If that doesn't bring him around then I'd give up.

FB

LIke Shan said try doing this for a living. I have finally realized I can not convince some folks, so I do not lose sleep over it anymore. I tell 'em what to do and hope they listen.

I like going to subdivision lakes that reallly are just interested in asethetics b/c once we do some fish work they have no prior biasis and listen. We will have a fishing day and the folks have a blast. The opposite is true when a "tournament fisherman" lives on the lake. He gives out free advice and seems nice. Hey someone I can speak fish too, WRONG. Hard to convince other board memebrs to trust me a fisheries biloigist working in pond management for over a decade over the local "expert" when it comes to removing stutned bass. SO critter hunter don't feel alone, lots of company where your at.

It's because of websites like this one that "we" the general public are getting more educated in pond management the "correct" way. I live on a subdivision lake and it is tough to fight some that constantly say "Well oh Billy Bob has had his lake for 20 yrs. and it's a great lake, so he must know what he's doing." Every lake and situation is different. What works for some, may not work for others. Thanks Pond Boss and Professional fishing biologist everywhere!!

Dear Abby,
Why do people still think watermelons, pecans and fish are free?
signed,
Frozen In a Shad Hole.

Dear FISH,
You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose. But, you can't pick your friend's nose.
Mindsets go with minds. Simple mindsets are based on simple thinking.
Watermelons, pecans and fish all have one thing in common. They grow, they need to be harvested.
The man who created "catch and release" fishing is a friend of mine. Ray Scott, founder of BASS, is the one credited with catch and release fishing. But, he will be first to tell you catch and release is a tool. He looked me in the eye and said, "You have to remove bass from a lake." I asked his opinion about how many to take...here's what he said, "Take all the small bass you can. When you are afraid you have taken too many, take out as many more as you have already taken."
Go fishing with your friend, but don't go hunting. With weapons, one of you may not come out of the woods.
A pond is like a garden. Would you plant 50 rows of tomatoes, and not take any? Same with a pond.
Harvest is a tool. Catch and release is a tool. Fish are tools. Fertilizer, feeding..tools. Use the right tools, and fish thrive. Leave out a critical tool, failure.
Don't worry about those who won't listen to you. Move on to better clientele. Chances are you will work for highly successful people, experts in their own fields, who understand the value of your expertise.
And, for those people who won't follow your recommendations, do it for them and send a bill. Their lake will improve, and you can buy new shoes for the kids, or a new collar for your lab. And, everyone smiles.