Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New member, New Owner of an Old Pond

Welcome, Mudhole! Congrats on the purchase and the lifetime of work ahead of you!

Good advice so far. If you don't want to kill the pond and start over, I agree with Dave that you may want to consider right off the bat just keeping every one of those smallish LMB (large mouth bass) that you catch. The more of them you eliminate, the better forage base available for the remaining fish. As Dave mentioned, eventually, you should start noticing healthier looking fish.

Keep catch records, too. This will allow you to watch length, weight, and WR (relative weight) to see trends and make adjustments as you go. Remember, none of these things will be quick changes - it all takes time, so make small adjustments, then wait to measure the results.

If you want to do some other things right away, short of killing the pond and starting again, buy some big BG (bluegill), again like Dave suggested, so they don't get eaten right off the bat. They'll reproduce and provide another level of forage for your LMB.

You may also want to consider aeration in the pond - bottom diffuser type - as that can, over time, help eliminate organic muck from the bottom of the pond and also contribute to overall healthier water.

Lots of ideas to consider and you'll no doubt get more. Have fun with it and keep us posted!