Ken you have HSB in there which are a big factor and lots of other predators (including trout a cold water predator) and including you. Plus a small pond with intensive mgt.

As I said the only effective predator in fishinbub's pond for crappie control is LMB plus the big crappie. Specifically the 4 to 12 inch LMB that are eating crappie yoy and small offspring. Those are the crappie (5 inches and under) that must be cropped in a huge way and the sooner in their life cycle the better. Up to 600,000 crappie yoy per pair is one amount provided in studies. They can decimate the plankton population first when they are fry then move on to eat the LMB yoy and then the BG yoy. They act like a hoard of locusts in a small pond.

The data and findings are all included in the archive. It tells the whole story with the findings of the FS who study the question. FB you are right that their spawning is cyclical - just like locusts. Can it be done successfully? The only one doing so is SEP with TShad , crappie , & HSB IIRC. That too is in the archive. However it is all about goals and mgt and the freedom to run your pond the way you want. Our collective effort at PB is to address the questions asked and provide data/opinions. Be sure to let us know what you do and how it works. New data is most welcome.



Last edited by ewest; 01/28/11 10:14 AM.