Originally posted by pat:
My goals are to to be able to go out and catch 10-15 bass evertime i go fishing and maybe catch a 5-7 lb. bass every once in a while.I hope this is possible
Pat,
When I started building ponds several years ago, I had the very same goals as you have. I also targeted a 6 acre pond but had to settle for a 3 acre pond due to $$$. It is now 3.5 acres and will be up to 4 acres this fall.
I found that my objectives were not supportable with the current "tried and true" Florida bass and BG combination. There are many reasons why my objectives can not be met with that standard method. One of them that does not often get discussed on here is fishing pressure.
If you only fish once or twice a year, you can meet your objectives with the "tried and true". If you fish maybe three or four times a year, you can still get very close to your objectives.
When you fish your pond, as I do, every week (and sometimes more than that with poachers present), I do not believe you can or will achieve your objectives with that standard approach. If you lie somewhere in between those "extremes" of fishing pressure, then I would expect your catch rates to vary proportionally.
For example in my 3.5 acre pond, which receives weekly fishing pressure, a minimum of two angler hours is required to catch a LMB (Florida strain, artificially fed).
On the other hand, a 3/4 pond with no management, other than annual stocking of Tilapa and only fished twice a year provides about 12-14 LMB per angler hour (with the very real opportunity to catch 5 to 7 pound bass).
I am convinced that in order to achieve my objectives, which have not really changed over the years, the "tried and true" has to be altered.
Many alterations have been discussed here.
One alteration, which maybe hasn't been really discussed is the idea that two 3 acre ponds are far superior (in terms of meeting our objectives) to one 6 acre pond. Likewise, three 5 acre ponds, are likely to be far superior to one 15 acre pond measured against the objectives of 10 to 15 bass caught in a couple of hours each visit with good chances at 5 to 8 pound bass.
Many folks will say they can catch 20 bass 3 to 4 pounds in their ponds with ease. That can indeed happen once or twice a year. On a more frequent basis, I doubt it can happen. In fact, will say it simply does not happen based on my experience.
More ponds give us the flexibility to manage fishing pressure, make use of genetics to add quality and prevent stagnation, as well as have a variety of different fish.
I was considering building a 15 acre pond on property I am in the process of acquiring. Now, I have just about convinced myself to build several smaller ponds in a chain like fashion..one feeding the other. I believe that will afford me the opportunity to reach my objectives.
Good luck with your journey.
