Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations What now?????

I have a three acre pond. It is fairly shallow 12' at the deepest point with about a third of it less than 4'. It is as good as I ever imagined it could be. I have about 150 channel cats averaging about 6lbs. I have at least 40 Black bass over 3 lbs. with 7 to 8lbs topping out. There are a good number of coppernosed bluegill many larger than your hand. I added Talipia today 15 lbs. Now, how close to the edge of a crash am I? The water is too clear. You can see the bottom at 5 foot. I have a lot of vegetation. I am afraid to fertilize triggering a plant explosion. I have seen the baitfish numbers dropping. Should I consider a dye? Its a leaky pond so I have a well feeding often. I tumble the water down rocks to help areate. I do have a feeder on it about 50lbs a month. I have added lime every year( a few hundred pounds). What should I do now????? PS the pond is located near Tyler Texas

Do you have an aerator going in the pond? You might be pretty close to it's carrying capacity. There's a couple of good threads in the archives on it.

I would second the aerator idea if you don't already have one...

How are you so sure on those fish #'s I'm just curious..

I'm not sure of the fish pounds. I simply counted the catfish when they came to the feed. The bass are an estimate based on a days fishing. There isn't any available power to the pond site for areator pumps. The well has been piped from a remote location.

You could consider a windmill aerator.

Bob, look in the archives on carrying capacity. When you are pushing the limit where you are, it's the hot, cloudy, windless days of summer that you have to worry about.

Clear water with a lot of vegetation. Sounds like the vegetation is sucking up all of the nutrients that should go for phytoplankton.

What kind of vegetation is it?

I believe it is brushy pond weed mostly. Some f. algae. Thinking the Talipia will handle that. There are lily pads which I think are water lotus. Considering a windmill areator but think about it-- the windless days when it would be most helpful it won't be turning. Plus I kind of question how much they would really contribute. By the way thanks for replying.

Input from a well depending on volume and frequency can destratify a pond and keep it destratified or fairly well mixed. Some bottom water temperature tests and or dissolved oxygen measurements (top-bottom) will provide lots more information. Maybe seek help on this: Texoma Hatchery (903-564-5372) or similar consultant?
Abundance of submerged vegetation & FA are contributing to the clear water conditions.
Baitfish are dropping probably due to large numbers of predators.

IMO it is time to be harvesting some fish. One should not feed, feed, feed and not harvest.

OK, I'll do the temp test. I get the don't feed, feed,feed, and no harvest. It sorta becomes an emotional issue. I worked so hard growing these fish and well,,,, you get it. Perhaps the question here is do I harvest any of the bass over 3lbs? Thanks, for all replys.
PS. the well is 60 gallons a minute 24/7 through the summer. Had to start early this year because of the dry spring.

If your goal is big bass, cull the ones under 13 to 14 inches. If you want big panfish, eat all of the big bass. OK, those are stock answers.

Since you say you believe you are light on forage, start removing all of the small bass you can catch. The small bass eat the small forage before it can grow enough to feed the larger ones. Start eating channel cats.

I know, tough to raise them and then........ However, the objective is to have a pond where all of the species are in balance. It'll never really happen, but you gotta try.

How is your electric bill treating you?

It costs about $150 a month to run the well. I really have no choice it is cheaper than trying to repair the leaky pond with questionable outcome. Plus I would loose all my fish. I only need the well in the summer usually. This year is extra dry.

DRY? YEP!

Dave you get any rain the last few days?

Yeah, about 1/4 inch.

Indiana got soaked. I believe my pond gained over 4' in depth since Sunday night. I'll find out when I get back home this weekend.

Dave, I feel your pain! (drought)