Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations ADVICE NEEDED FOR POND MGMT

HISTORY: This is a 3 acre 12' max. depth retention pond in a housing development constructed in '88. The original stocking was by fisherman from other lakes, BG, LMB, Flathead cats. No Mgmt till '93, then only attempts at weed control. In '96 stocking of 60 grass carp, 300 red ears, 100 channel cats. Weeds are under control since '97. The pond has always had little fishing pressure with few fish removed. To increase genetic diversity a recent stocking of 500 BG, 300 Red ear, 300 CC, 100 LMB, 5000 Mosquito Minnows. No feeding or fertilization program.

GOAL: A healthy diverse pond. Good fishing but no emphasis on trophy LMB or trophy BG. I do not want a pond full of skinny little fish.

SUBJECTIVE: Fish Farm Guy says the pond looks good (no survey done). From the bank one sees: What appears to be a healthy pond. Visibility to about 18", 3-4 doz turtles 14" to 4", Mussels are abundant and easy to pick up in shallow water, yearling LMB to 6lbs seen but not as many small LMB as expected, LMB regularly seen in shallow water and strike at fish in ultra shallow water, BG yearling to 9", but I would expect a larger ratio of small BG, No CC are ever seen, 3 or 4 36" GC are regularly seen, occasional FC seen. Regular visits by river otter, osprey, heron, storks, cranes, anhinga, etc.

OBJECTIVE: No channel cats have ever been caught. FC are all 14-16" & 2-2.5 lbs, LMB the few that I have caught are 4-6lbs appear to be healthy, No angling PSD done nor RW Index done for LMB. BG angling PSD approaches 80%, RWI the BG appear to be 50% underweight for their size.

ASSESSMENT: Pond is on the cusp heading towards an over population of BG. The BG population has reached its Maximum capacity for the pond hence they all are now under weight.

PLAN: Remove all BG possible in the 3-7" range. Return all LMB & most FC & CC. Feed MM and Fry.

Comments?

What do I do with all those underweight BG? Make BG smoothies for the small fish?

Where are the channel cats or what has happened to them?

J.E. Craig, the question may pop up as to what the goals are for the pond. Once the target is clarified, more PB members will give specific input.

As far as removing bluegill, many would say that they are the backbone of the forage base for LMB and therefore to not remove any if your goal is big LMB. However, you could have other forage base dynamics happening.

You've given a good bit of info. already. If you can just state what the goals for the pond are, you should get pertinent input.

As far as the channel cats, over the past 2-3 three years, I've put about 30 channel cats in my 6-7 acre pond, and I've never seen or caught one, although I seldom fish specifically for them.

Last fall, I put in three albino channel cats that were about 6-7lbs. each and about 26-27" long. I haven't seen them since. But I hope to pleasantly surprised.

Welcome to the site.

Have you noticed any spawning?
Bass should be done by now, but beds would be noticable.
Bluegill spawn should be hot now.

You should try feeding the BG with floating fish food. This will give you a better indication of numbers vs hook and line. I though my lake was scarce with BG, now I have about a million under my dock. Go figure.

I am not sure of the dynamics of turtles, but that seems like a lot for that size pond. They can eat a lot of fish, along with the birds. Is there much cover for forage fish to hide from predators?

JEC :

Welcome to the PB forum. Good first post. It sounds almost like a college fisheries science test question. First when was the recent stocking mentioned in para. one? What are MM (mud minnows)? Were all these recent fish small fingerlings? What is the background of the "Fish Farm Guy" ? Has an assessment been done by seine , cage/trap ,or other ? What are your goals for the pond? What was the status just before you put in the recent fish? What size LMB are feeding in shallow water as described? Time of year for the RW data?

For example if you had LMB of all sizes and put in 300 3in. CC they may well have been eaten. They are slow easy prey for LMB and their recruitment is minimal in pond with LMB. Another point most all the fish stocked from 96 back are well past their life expct. if still there (probably dead by now). As a result determining past recruitment of the fish and status just prior to the recent stocking is key. Another point if within the last year you stocked the additional BG and water fertility is low those BG could be not getting enough to eat. Some of the info seems contradictory. Example "BG yearling to 9", but I would expect a larger ratio of small BG"- Yet I assume you recently put in small BG. Basing small BG counts on visual info only is risky. BG 3in. or less can be almost invisible. Seining or trapping would give much better data.

With the current info I can't say that I agree with the assessment or plan. In small ponds with LMB and BG in the mix I have never seen or heard of a pond that is balanced and self sustaining. They require population mgt. especially among year classes/sizes. I am not aware of any LMB/BG ponds which are stock , fish and forget ponds that stay balanced and healthy. If there is little fishing and minimal fish cull that is what you have described other than adding fish once in the last 10 years. Using just the basic info provided you have said :

LMB all sizes healthy only a few sm. ones seen
BG all sizes larger ones under weight (as per creel survey)
FC smallish for the species
small minnows ok
CC likely gone

Last but very important are the known fish predators. Of the river otter, osprey, heron, storks, cranes, anhinga two of these can cause considerable harm to a 3 acre pond. Otters and anhinga ( these are often water turkeys or cormorants) are best kept out.

For what it is worth my WAG at this point is near balanced as a result of the recent stocking but not enough food for the large BG , possibly near out of balance predator crowded (FC and LMB) at small end of the food chain. This speaks volumes for the need/benefit of year class info. This is the only way I know to account for out of balance one way at the top end and out of balance the other direction at the bottom (small) end. Post more info if available and we can guess some more.

I would be happy with just a healthy diverse pond with no great emphasis on tropy size just good fishing. I do not want a pond full of little fish.

My relative size and population structure observations have been during an evening informal feeding program. A loaf of stale bread and a walk around the pond.

Cover, not much. I have cut down some pine trees at the waters edge and let them fall in the water. I also have three groups of a dozen cement blocks that I have placed for cover.

Spawning, I have been looking but have not seen any signs.