Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Managing Crappie and LMB at the same time

It sounds like you are happy with your fishery already but you would like more bass in the 3 to 5 pound range.

Perhaps food for thought...My understanding is, typically, BOWs with lots of big panfish have a lot of small bass. Those small small bass target the small panfish and reduce competition for the panfish that survive allowing them to grow to a larger size. I understand your concern that eliminating too many small bass could cause a crappie explosion. Have you thought about a harvest slot size on your bass? Maybe 30 pounds per acre of bass 10 to 14 inches? This would leave your small bass to control crappie and BG spawn while reducing the numbers of the size bass that are competing for the same size forage as your bass trying to get to 3 to 5 pounds. (Those 8 or 9 inch bass are also appropriate size and shape forage for your bigger LMB. IMO it would be a shame to throw them in the compost pile.)

Maybe also harvest crappie 10 or 12 and smaller?

Not a pro...just my 1 cent.

Bill D.