Okay if your goal is generalized angling catching mostly all sizes of each species, then after your bass have spawned once and their young reaches 8"-10" long you can start harvesting bass and bluegills(BG). After 2 yrs, You will recognize new crop bass when you start catching 6"-8" bass. CC harvest: (eat or toss) everyone you catch that is big enough to clean. CC as larger fish become very hard to catch for average anglers especially if the CC has previously been 'hooked'.
Here is my harvest opinion based on generalized fishing goals for 3/4 ac. Others with experience will add information. Select it to suit your needs. Once BG get to 8", generally harvest any BG up to 20-30 per year. Harvest most all bass over 15"-16" releasing all smaller bass. Big bass are eating more of the larger BG (4"-5") and this reduces the number that grow to larger harvestable BG. Numerous smaller bass keep the BG numbers lower (predation) of smaller individuals (1"-3")providing less competition and more food for remaining fish for growth. Following these guidelines will keep the pond in a good mixed fish balance. Whenever you have any type of pond problems or questions return to this thread for advice so we have your pond history.
Feeding the fish some good quality fish food on a regular basis (3-7days/wk) will produce more fish, faster growing fish, and generally larger fish compared to if they were not fed pellets. Amount to feed daily for general angling can be 1 cup to up to a half gallon of pellets. Add pellets at each feeding as they are consumed not all at once unless adding just 1 cup of pellets.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 10/06/15 02:12 PM.
