This is a fantastic topic. There seems to be quite a few folks who feel management of a 3/4 acre pond is essentially the same as a 75 acre pond (not on this forum, though
). All of my ponds are under 1.5 acres, so I've found that quite a bit of the information available on government sites and fish supplier sites does not apply to the smaller body of water. Ironically, there is probably more of these "smaller" ponds that need managed.
My feelings on the smaller ponds are similar to what Todd is suggesting, with minor variations.
1. Low reproductive potential for predators is essential. Female LMB are probably even more viable for smaller ponds than large ponds, because it is more practical to "drain, seine, and start a-gain". If you make an error, it is correctable without taking a major financial hit. I think this is a great unexplored idea--Female LMB in small ponds
2. High reproductive potential for forage. Yes, but not always necessary. I'm currently managing my best pond with low reproductive potential forage, but this would only work if the predators are feed trained, which many LMB are, or if the goal is trophy panfish.
3. Use of creative structure for conversion of prey biomass to predator biomass. I.E. Feeding areas where fatheads congregate to use pellets, right over areas where predators live. This not only improves optimal foraging theory, but gives anglers an idea of predator location. This also gives the pond owner the ability to periodically improve angling by turning off the feeder for a few days. The fish continue to utilize these areas and become easier to catch as they get more and more anxious for food.
Consider the following options:
A. Predator/s: HSB and/or female LMB (both feed trained).
Prey: Fathead minnow, probably supplemented in relation to observed densities and augmented by feeding.
B. Predator: Black crappie with selective angler harvest of male fish each spring.
Prey: Fathead minnow, once again fed and periodically supplemented.
C. Predator: HSB (feed trained, obviously)
Prey: Bluegill and fathead minnows, with heavy harvest pressure on female adult bluegill. All fish benefit from feeding. Lots of cheap biomass, good angling, and potential for trophy bluegill AND HSB.
D. Trophy BG/RES pond with high density LMB as ewest suggest, but maybe a potential variation would be heavy harvest pressure on female BG, female RES and LMB over 15 inches after spawning.
E. Predator: Trophy female LMB.
Prey: Tilapia from March through October and Rainbow Trout from October through May. These prey fish would require little maintenance and give the LMB a month in the fall and a month in the late spring where they could gorge at will. RT could be harvest on a limited basis and the LMB might end up around 15 pounds. This is a wild one, but I'm not sure I can think of a good reason why it wouldn't work.
It needs to be mentioned that these are "southern" options, in concurrence with Todds ideas. "Northern" ponds have other fish available that can replace the above fish, such as female YP (if used as predator) and both-sex YP (if used as prey).
It should also be mentioned that smaller ponds need to be more intensively managed, in relation to size because of the ponds limited ability to buffer oxygen and temperature swings from rain/weather events and aquatic plant die-offs. The pond owner may need to be well versed in symptomology of problems which may create the dreaded "fifteen minutes" which can claim every fish in the pond.
Remember that the tendency on these small ponds is to allow the fish-weight density to grow beyond the ponds ability to absorb and process toxins, ammonia etc. Very, very fun--but with some element of danger.
