Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Culling question for LMB

In my pond, we have LMB ranging from fingerlings up to 22" plus in length. I wanted to start doing some slot limit culling this season.

I wanted to look at culling LMB in the range of 8 - 10".

However, last fall I added about 40 LMB in the 8-10" range to help mix up the gene pool. I also added about 10 LMB in the 12-14" range last fall and 10 more LMB in the 12 - 14" range a few weeks ago; this was all for the gene pool (as the current LMB population were from the 1970's). FYI: last fall's LMB were from a fishery in Illinois, and the LMB from a few weeks back were from Arkansas.

Obviously, I don't want to cull some LMB that I just put in, so any suggestions on a rough game plan?

For instance, is it any benefit to cull LMB in the 6-8" range, etc.

Thanks in advance.
Sunil

Maybe you should wait until your bass spawn and then start removing some. That way you should get some new genes in your pond before culling.
I'm not sure about Pa. but here in Ms. bass spawn usually in April and May. So, I wouldn't think you have to wait too much longer. As far as size goes it would be a guess. I think I would opt for the 8"-10" size removal, And tend to hope the ones that size that you stocked had grown larger.

Hey Doc:

Thanks for the input. I was hoping for some intitial growth in the new 8-10" LMB. Along with their stocking, I put about a 100+lbs of shiners and fatheads, however, the majority of their time in my pond wouldn't have been the growing season especially in PA.

But I agree w/ you about waiting until after the spawn.

It was also suggested that I may be able to see some visible pattern difference in the new LMB vs. the existing ones. I've been waiting to check that, however, the LMB only started showing up this past Saturday afternoon in my pond. Up until then so far this year, I hadn't seen a fish in my pond although water temps. were around 50 degrees. This past Saturday, the water temp was warming up past 52 degrees.