I have a 1.3 acre farm pond in Iowa that once held very nice bluegill, largemouth bass, and an occasional crappie. In 2012 or so this pond froze out (winter kill). We thought it was a total kill but noticed small fish the next spring. We added about 50 LMB in the 12 to 14 inch range thinking this would control the smaller fish population ....
Phonzie, the particular situation you face is very difficult to correct by fishing. If it were that you had very abundant LMB and large BG, then yes, fishing could help you balance the BOW. Fishing will not be enough to increase the size and reduce the number of BG.
You mentioned that the LMB were 12 to 14 inches when you stocked them. Studies of realized prey provide evidence that is in agreement with the following statement:
95% of the prey largemouth eat are less the 25% of their length For 12" to 14" LMB, 95% of the their prey is less than 3.25" in length. OK, so I think I know that nearly all of your BG are bigger than 3" but also that they do not successfully spawn. The LMB are starving because of this.
Here are some options for you that I think will help.
1. Try to remove at least 200 lbs of BG through seining and or trapping. Do this early before their first spawn. Attack the BG not by fishing but by other more effective means.
2. Either feed or fertilize to improve condition for spawning. Of the two, I favor fertilization but do as you wish on that. Actually, you don't need to fertilize or feed if you don't want you. Removing a big weight of fish from the system is like pruning a tree ... the branches (BG) that remain grow with increased vigor.
3. Try to remove at least half to three quarter of your catfish. 300 to 400 lbs of catfish in the 3 to 4 pound size aren't helping. They don't want to eat BG less than 3" and so there was little predation in this size class. CC will foster a population of 3"-5" bluegill.
3. Its hard to say how many LMB you have left. They probably cannot successfully spawn in the presence of so many small fish. You may need to supplement their numbers. Do not do this until you see that BG are spawning well again. Add them > than 8" and no more than 80.
