Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations do you believe that this an 20 month LM Bass?

First serious fishing on my Crappie/Bluegill pool. Dug in 2006, filled spring 2006, put in Bluegill/RedEars Summer 2006, black crappie Winter 2006, fatheads each time. Got worried and added more Bluegill/Black Crappie Winter 2007.

I was major-league criticized locally when I turned down both Bass and catfish as I wanted a Crappie pond. Some were incensed that was not following their advice. This week, the LB Bass are more than double the size of the Crappie, and the Catfish 3 times.

See picture at:


My question is:
That does not look like a Crappie. And does anyone believe that it is only ~20 months old? My brother, the handsome one in the photo said that it had to be at least 4 years old, more likely 6 years.

Comments???

I'd say 3 years. Bit in the Great State of Texas, with longer warm seasons and good forage, I can see 20 months.

Now that I have set you up, this is a freshly dug pool, with only FH minnows, B Crappie, BG, RE put in. Where did the "monster LMB and catfish" come from?

You have no relatives, neighbors, or friends to "help you out" by stocking fish in your pond?

Just those who got angry at my no-Bass, no-Catfish approach to recreating my youth.

It could be a 2 yr old class bass with not much cover, plenty of forage and if the pond got pretty low in late summer. That is a goodun.

I see lots of Blue Gill, cover in corners (artifical reefs), feeding BG 2x a day, and pool 2 feet low all summer.

It is not uncommon for some hatcheries to have a strange fish or 2 in their batch. For example I have seen yoy LMB in with FH and BG in with FH. Also HBG in with BG and RES. GShiners in with BG and CC in with GShiners. That often comes about because hatcheries don't always sterilize their ponds.

Yes that could be a 2 year old LMB in a fed pond especially a new one with faster growth.

I got a lone HSB as a surprise in my original stocking of BG, RES, CC, and LMB.