Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations managing lmb in a trophy bg pond

Scott, I think by harvesting the male bass you will be able to reduce the number of bass recruitment in your pond. You will have to keep an eye on the number of bluegills and the size of them. If you see them not getting as large as you like, and start seeing high numbers of smaller BG, I would not harvest any male LMB from the beds for a year or two. That should allow some YOY LMB to survive and start chowing down on the smaller BG.

To grow larger LMB, not only do they need sufficient forage fish, but the forage fish have to be of the correct size. Many small fish won't grow large LMB, they have to expend too much energy catching small meals. Remember, LMB don't catch a meal every time they go after it, so what they DO catch has to be enough calories to make up for all the expended calories during their unsuccessful tries at catching a meal.