Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations How to determine gender

Since the pond is one acre, when you get the flathead out stock some LMB back into the pond to get a significant increase in bass numbers. However it is not just a matter of adding more bass. For best success you have to stock the proper size of LMB. In the mean time, get the kids back to some live bait fishing with long shank hooks with No10 or better #12 size - Carlisle style is the hook to best use.
http://www.amazon.com/Mustad-Classic-Carlisle-Kirbed-100-Pack/dp/B00DSPONZW

Each fish the kids catch get its total length measured. Record the length on paper or electronically (Ipad). After you catch and remove around 100-150 sunfish organize the data into each 1/2" length size groups and number in each group, i.e. 2.5"-3.0", 3.0-3.5", 3.6-4". The group with the largest numbers is usually the fish you have the most of and need to have removed. Bass length needed to eat those BG is 3 to 4 times longer than those overabundant BG. Example: most of the BG are 3.0" to 3.5", so you need to stock at least 9" to 12" long bass to start eating and help you remove the 3"-3.5" BG. 20-30 of these bass/ac will be a good start. Re-check the stocking success next year by doing the same thing. If things are working the numbers in each size class of BG will change from your baseline data of this year. Hopefully you will see more larger BG appearing in the angler catches. The Stocking of smaller bass (2"-4") in overpopulated BG ponds often has poor results for ones goal unless you can manually remove high numbers (400-600/ac) of the offending size of BG. Buying larger bass will be fairly pricey which gives one a good idea of the value of that specific fish in your pond.