Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Reducing fish biomass

^^^ I like it! If I smack the fish in head behind the eyes, about 40%-50% of the time the fins will flare and they won't twitch. I might have to try the spike method.

I will be fishing the same pond this Friday afternoon.

One of my buddies in med school did a research project where he had to pith the fish and then take the samples immediately after the fish died. It was the same method.

He was a VERY precise guy, and is now an eye surgeon, so I suspect he got it exactly right every time.

I suspect I might miss every now and then, but I believe it is considered one on the most humane methods to euthanize research animals. Like our "taste" experiment, you typically don't want stress chemicals in your research animal tissues.

Mom had an old ball-peen hammer, shortened to fit her tackle box, to smack catfish or a muskie if she was lucky.


As part of my pond re-balancing, I ikejima-ed a 14" LMB this morning, relative weight barely 80%. It is easier to get a hook, weigh, & measure out if he is still.

This was released back into the pond. I did not take the time to get a weight.

I have read on Pond Boss the proper way to pellet-train the fish.

I still have not read a post on how you get the fish to sit still for their photos. I always have problems with that one.