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12 hours ago
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 102
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 102 |
I heard time and time again about crappie's habit of overpopulation and stunting in small ponds. Why don't people use them as forage for bass? My pond is 1 1/2 acres and 7 1/2 feet deep at the deepest and I was thinking if black crappie were added 2 seasons after bass then the original stockers would reach good sizes and the recruitment numbers would be low due to the high number of stunted bass. Would this work?
Drought of 2012
-God gives you situations so that you can benefit from them.
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One of the problems with crappies and bass in small bodies of water I am told is the crappies hatch before the bass. This gives them a head start, and they may or will feed on the bass fry after they hatch. Reducing the survival of the bass fry is probably one of the reasons they can take over a pond.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 102
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 102 |
I don't mind if bass recruitment numbers are low, possibly BG could feed on the YOY crappie?
Drought of 2012
-God gives you situations so that you can benefit from them.
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Joined: Apr 2002
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""" ....possibly BG could feed on the YOY crappie?"" Yes but only for about 7-10 days. Likely an insignificant loss of YOY crappie.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 102
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 102 |
Drought of 2012
-God gives you situations so that you can benefit from them.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
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They are not recommended for ponds under 15 acres. Some folks say the minimum size of the pond is even larger.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,997 Likes: 1496
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A stunted bass pond can work for growing crappie in a smaller pond. But be mindful of what the crappie will eat to grow in a pond full of hungry bass. Small stunted bass can only feast on crappie for a few weeks in summer. The the crappie grow beyond the size stunted bass can eat. Then what? What are all fish to eat once the YOY crappie are too big for most of the bass to eat? A pond like this and out of balance can easily become food limited and nothing grows not bass nor too abundant crappie. The gape of a 7"-12" bass is not very large; measure it then calculate what size crappie will fit into its mouth. BE aware of and acceptable of the risk and liability of doing it. It is not easy nor cheap to renovate a pond. I assume that you have read the info in this link from the PBoss Archives. If not read it and then decice. http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92447#Post92447
Last edited by Bill Cody; 04/09/12 07:42 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
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