Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Bass Culling 10-10-15

Fishing last week at the pond we noticed very few smaller BG feeding. We believe the pond has become quite bass heavy. Culling has commenced. 44 bass caught, 36 culled most in the 8-13" range a few runts of this year spawn and a few quality bass in the 15"+ range.

SB, the first pic is lol quality. Last pic has me boggled.

After holding that many bass your thumbs look like raw hamburger meat

From another thread FYI. The LMB you are holding does not look like it came from an overcrowded situation. But it is wise to stay ahead of overcrowding.


For LMB

This is what is suggested by Dick Anderson - the Prof who wrote the book on PSD.

Keep taking <12 in bass until the number 8-12 equals number 12-15. Ideal pond structure is 40% 8-12, 40% 12-15 and 20% 15+

This assumes good fish condition.

Another suggestion is take out all the fish in poor condition in all size groups. Note the size group that is stunted will have a much higher % of fish in poor condition.

These are all correlated to the concept of RW mgt.

Here are 3 archive links with a ton of info on the subject.

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=255372#Post255372

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=255359

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=92492#Post92492

If the only method of removal is hook and line then you need to consider the catchibility issue which underlies your question about genetics.

Look for threads here on catchability. The info is here as is the research.



Here are a couple with links

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=274175&page=1

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post200220

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.ph...true#Post260622

Thanks ewest. The two bass in the picture were in good shape as were most of the smaller bass, but I would rather be proactive than reactive. Most of the larger bass were released. Larger BG are still coming to the feed, but the number of smaller BG has dropped dramatically. To give prospective this is a .30 acre pond and we literally only moved 20 feet to catch all 44 LMB. I will definitely look through these links though.

I am following this thread -- anxious to see how your dynamics change under active management.

Wow Snakebite! You caught 44 LMB in a .3 acre. I would be pulling a whole bunch of LMB out of there as well!

Snakebite, I knew exactly what your "thumb" picture was showing. I relish the "roughed up" thumb for a few days after I get after successful LMB fishing.

Yup that's a green thumb right there. Of a other sort that is!!

Good job guys!!

RC

Wow that is a lot of bass removed. I wonder how many more there could be? Get some forage in there too!

We didn't catch many sub 6" LMB, so my thinking is they are getting knocked on hard by the next size class up. Also small CC have disappeared.

If I recall correctly, there's some study that shows that smaller bass are under-sampled in creel surveys. Experts can confirm?

If you scale down to a piece of worm and a bobber do you catch any dinks?

I doubt those little blisters are from holding Bass.