Hey catmadoo.
So on your crappie did you start them in your pond at the same time you started your bass?
You know many people see crappie as a very aggressive eater that will totally take over a pond. Truth, I dont really know that they can? But I also think that if you have your bass established, then they are also a very aggressive eater. So I believe with the bass helping cut down on the crappie reproducing. I will get some good table scraps and let the bad apples survive on their own.
Just wondered how you started your crappie?
I need to look for different and more structure here really soon. My chrismas trees are aging, I just caught one the other day, felt like I was catching a big turtle.
Brian,
The crappie were here when we purchased this property four years ago. In my first year I began trying to rid my pond of a large number of obnoxious overgrown channel cats. Once I found out that I had crappie in the pond, I began taking out every one we could catch.
I primarily manage my half-acre pond for large bluegill. I enjoy smaller catfish (less than 3 lbs), and I enjoy trout in the winter. The bass are just part of the equation, although they are fun to catch now and then. To me, they are workers, just like herding dogs. Unless seriously wounded, I don't expect to remove any bass from the pond this year. The crappie have been fine, but I worry about their ability to over forage my small bass and then over populate. I remain committed to taking every crappie that is caught. I added redeared sunfish and 14-18 inch catfish several weeks ago.
As for structure -- if you need to remove your old structure, I've found that a hay hook from a horse tack shop works great for dragging the old brush and trees out.
Good luck,
Ken
