Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Am I Thinking Correctly?

I need your opinions please. Tell me if I am thinking correctly.

A 2.87 acre pond previously unmanaged had a stunted bass population as of June of 07'. From June 07' to Dec 07' I took out 95 bass all between 10-12 in. Fertilization began late in the year toward the end of the growing season and missed most of the spawn. As we entered the winter, the bass that were left were fat and happy. We began fertilizing again in Mar of 08'.

So 08' will be the first year that the pond will be fertile through the spawn and complete growing season. This meaning that the carrying capacity of the pond will now be significantly increased. The spawns of both bass and bream will be trying to fill the void.

My plan for this year was to take 60lbs of bass out of the pond. I have noticed that the majority of the bass that we are catching right now are small but healthy. Mostly between 7-10 inches. So far I have taken 112 bass totaling 55lbs.

My thinking is since we took the 95 bass last year and since we have started a fertilization process, recruitment of both bass and bream has been tremendous. Because yoy bass are voracious feeders accounts for the high catch rates of the smaller bass. I will catch one 13-14 inch bass for every 20 small bass. All bass are healthy and at optimum weights so I am not concerned about available forage. I have not taken but 85 bream from the pond and those were for eating. I am letting them fill this fertile pond will bass food.

Is my reasoning for the high catch rates of small bass sound? Or, am I out of whack and need some adjustment?

Once again, bass caught are healthy. 13 in bass is 1.4 lbs.

Thanks for your input

Did you have yoy of both LMB and BG ? Any larger LMB caught ( 15 in. up) ? Do you see or have you caught and released large BG (9+ inches) ? What about #s of 2-4 in BG.

Sounds like you are on the right track. Leave all big BG and harvest 20 lbs of LMB per acre. Learn how to do a population analysis. See this link from the archives - Population Analysis.

http://www.pondboss.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92492#Post92492

Yes, I have yoy of both LMB and BG. I have also caught many large BG 9+. Seeing large numbers of smaller BG in the 2-4in range due to good spawning in fertile water with lower predator ratios. At least, thats my thinking. The large BGs are a carryover from a sustained stunted bass population. I have yet to catch a LMB larger than 15 but it may be a little early yet. I am hoping to see a few more 14-15in LMB later in the growing season.

Thanks for the link ewest.

Sounds like you are on track. Keep working the plan and post results.