I thought small bass would be more likely to compete with the crappie vs. feeding on them. My logic was less small bass=more large bass=less small crappie. What am I missing? Will the small bass feed on the crappie?
Thanks,
Sam
Crappie usually spawn earlier than bass or bluegill, and they get to where they can eat their younger cousins before the cousins can really compete. It is the crappie feeding on the young bass and bluegill that cause the pond balancing problems.
So I guess the crappie will be doing enough "small bass management" without my help. The crappie, LMB, CC, and BG have been coexisting in this pond as long as I can remember. Based on my observations over the last 10-12yrs they kind of go in cycles. For a few years we'll have a good crappie fishery, then CC, then LMB, then back to crappie. Seems like we've always had a good bluegill fishery, up until the last two years or so.
I know the crappie had a RIDICULOUSLY large spawn last year, so I have my work cut out for me.
