One thing to add. If they are fishing in the pond, make sure that they have a good net and don't let the fish flop around all over the ground. If you have large LMB in the pond, holding the fish by it's lower jaw like you see on fishing shows may very well injure the fish, and not be noticable immediately.

A friend who is very particular about his "babies", has just a few rules on his pond, and he lets a number of people fish it.

1) Fly Fishing only
2) Barbless hooks, artificial bait only
3) Fish is to be out of the water for 30 seconds max.
4) LMB MUST be netted out of the water, and MUST be held with two hands. Hook is to be removed while the LMB is in the net in the water. Not held with one hand and removed with the other.

IIRC the pond record is now at 11+# for a LMB. I've caught RES on a LMB popper that were somewhere between 11"-12".

One last thing - NO line or plastic lures are to be left at or in the pond - don't take a used up soft plastic bait off the hook and discard it in the pond - it can kill a fish by plugging up their digestive tract.

www.hoosierpondpros.com


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3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).