Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations 20 pound blue cat lower fish population??

Hi Bassman good to see you around again!

I have a few observations that might be helpful:

1. Probably should have kept the BC - once a fish that size gets hooked, it's hard to get another chance - they become pretty wary. I'd keep any BC that size moving forward.

2. Lusk PB story focuses on bass club lake where catches diminished significantly, so they called and ordered electrofishing survey to be performed. He didn't sample many bass, but found many large BC - one with a 3# LMB sticking out of it's mouth IIRC. The piece demonstrated BC are ultimate apex predators, forage preference limited only by their gape, and can decimate a fishery. I don't recall how many BC he shocked, but believe they were all removed, and he launched a supplemental stocking program of BG and LMB to restore the quality of the fishery - which I'm sure he did.

3. George employs a single BC to assist his CNBG management in his HSB pond and it helps him achieve his goals - CNBG are healthy and overpopulation isn't an issue. Once the BC hits 10# and starts targeting preferred fish [8"+ CNBG] I believe he removes and stocks another young fish and starts over.

Depending on how many BC exist in your fishery - yes, they could be the or a part of the reason[s] your fishery is suffering. Your remaining LMB and BG should be fairly healthy and large due to lack of competition for forage, I'd assume - so depending on your goals the BC might or might not be appropriate element of your management strategy.

If your goal is to restore higher catch rates of BG and LMB I would remove as many BC as you can through trot line or jug sets. Live or cut BG should take some fish, and if your BC hit pellets, you can catch them on pellet imitations and stout tackle, too.

If you only have 1 BC present, I doubt it could account solely for the vast reduction in fish you're catching/seeing. My fish all move deep once October hits...could that be part of they reason you're not seeing many BG and LMB?