We just bought a new home with our daughter and her husband in Chesapeake VA with a 2 acre pond. I'm looking forward to years of fishing the pond with my 2 grandchildren.
There is currently a good population of bass, bluegills and shell crackers(Red ear) sunfish. The shell crackers seem healthy, but the bass and bluegills seem light for their length.
There are also a lot of turtles, including at least one large snapping turtle. I'm wondering if the turtles are competing for the same forage as the bluegills.
In any case, I need to establish a stable food chain and perhaps use supplemental feeding in the short term.
Should I actively remove the turtles?
How do I best manage the food chain?
How do I determine the current populations?
Any recommendations for nearby assistance and supplies will be appreciated.
