Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations 1.5 Yr old pond and have some bluegill population

New here but excited to get some feedback.

I live in south Alabama and Last year built about 1 3/4 acres pond in my back yard. Stocked it with 2,000 (70% coppernose,20% bluegill, and 10% shellcracker) bream and 6,000 fat heads in January 13. Pond has had a feeder on it since day one that feeds twice a day Nov-Mar and twice a day the rest of the year. I fertilize with 10-52-4 powdered fertilizer and put 6 tons of lime in this past January. Bream are grwoing very good with some that I can hardly put my hand around. I stocked 120 tiger bass in June of last year and they are probably an avg size of 12 inches now.

My question is should I harvest some of my bream ( we have kept about 30 bulls since early spring for a couple of meals) and if so what should I harvest.

I built this pond so that my son (6) could go out and catch bass in the back yard any time he wants....I am not looking for giant bass but would like to maybe one day have an avg bass size close to 3#'s.

Input appreciated

Hey buck welcome to the PBF! Sounds like you got a great place!! I asked the very same question here last year. Some guys on here that know a lot more then me said to wait to harvest my BG until the 4th year. (I am sure the year can be different depending your situation) but then they told me they like to harvest BG between the 6 to 8 inch range. Letting the bigger ones go for breeding and for just plan old fun catching the big ones!! Nothing more fun then catching a 10 plus inch BG!! Lets see what some others have to say. I was told you don't want to harvest your initial stockers let them grow and be your breeders. Hence the reason for waiting about 4 years before harvest.

RC

how big were the tiger bass at the time of stocking?


I would recommend getting some more data. It sounds like your pond is healthy, but i would get a relative weight chart and start to track the health of the CNBG with this. Basically if they are 90% or preferably 100-110%, then i think you are fine.

if you start finding skinny, under nourished fish, then potentially harvest is appropriate, but mostpond owners never have this problem due to the bass.

Another option still would be to start aeration and then feed a bit more.



I think your stocking numbers are great for development of a good bass fishery.

even though your goals are 3 lb bass, you will pass this likely with the genetics you have used.



drp

Dustin I agree he will have some bigger bass than 3 pounds. I am betting 5 pounds and more than a few.

RC

My bass were fingerlings when I stocked them.....about 1.5"

Yeah with that kind of BG pop though you will have your bass growing fast! They are eating machines and you have enough room in that size pond to grow some biggins!! What you might want to consider doing eventually is creating a slot limit size for your bass or if you catch any baby bass get rid of them to help keep your numbers down. Sounds like fun good luck!!

RC