Coach, In addition to what Dr Dave provided are numerous reasons why BG will become overpopulated in ponds both north and south.
1. Remember the information or pond data that was used for writing the MSU booklet was from earlier years when catch and release bass fishing was not very popular. IN that bass were harvested or targeted and BG were usually ignored. Today a different philosophy prevails among many anglers - bass catch and release often prevails. Many ponds thus become too numerous with bass.
2. The primary reason for BG overpopulation is too many bass were removed in the ponds before the 1st bass spawn was old enough to itself spawn. Again old angler philosophy that is not so prevelant today.
3. BG overpopulation is common in ponds that are too weedy and usually neglected.
4. Improper fish harvest is often responsible for BG overpopulation.
5. Sometimes but rarely the original stocking of LMB had poor survival and not enough bass survived to control BG.
6. Ponds where BG are overpopulated are mismanaged or not managed. A well managed pond where the INFORMED owner regularly checks and samples the fishery are never overpopulated with BG.
7. The data used for the statement you referred to in the MSU booklet did not come from ponds where the fish were regularly fed pellets by INFORMED pondowners. I am confident that the data for that conclusion came from poorly managed or neglected ponds.
IMO pond neglect and uninformed pond owners cause the overpopulation of BG in almost every case. The MSU pond booklet has some very good basic information, but IMO some of it is misleading or not well explained and written for novice pondowners with limited or no experience and limited ability to manage. The authors leave out some important information. It is a short booklet not a detailed treatsie of pond management. Remember it is written for the average, casual, sometimes absent or neglectful pond owner with a philosophy of stocking and let nature take its course combinded with generalized fishing. With proper management BG and LMB combination can produce a fabulous fishery. It has been proven many times even in MI.
The bass - BG fishery should be managed with one of three goals in mind: 1. trophy or large bass, 2. trophy BG, or 3. gereralized fishing with an "average" or normal size distribution. The MSU booklet did not discuss this newer philosophy of managing a Bass- BG pond. That concept is discussed in several of the newer State pond management guides (Ohio Pond Management Handbook is one of them, available online at ODNR website.). Others can provide some other links or suggestions.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 03/25/09 10:37 PM.
