Originally Posted by John Fitzgerald
NO CRAPPIE. NO OTTERS. I have seen crappie dominate a small pond, with nothing more than 4". Crappie should only be in large rivers and lakes of 100 acres or more.


One or two otters in my ponds this winter wiped out about 90 channel catfish weighing probably 200 pounds total. Never could catch them in the act, but saw the catfish heads and other otter sign.

Per Cody, Hybrid Crappie - HBCP are certainly an option given thoughtful management - from February alone:

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16"
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17"
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18"
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...you get the picture. These fish are from a 2 ac pond - HBCP average 14". HBCP can serve as a great bonus fish with little impact on fishery provided one understands the management strategies to employ.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 02/07/24 08:47 PM.
Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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