Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Culling BG

Been feeding the BG in a 1acre pond I acquired a year or so ago.
Since auto feeding daily we’ve noticed some nice sized BG when we are able to catch one and many many 1” and smaller. Like frye size in traps we put out.

The thing is we know there are a ton in the pond because when the feeder goes off they are absolutely in a frenzy and there are some really good sized splashes at the surface.

But when we try to catch them with live worms, small soft baits etc they are really stubborn about biting. Or only the really tiny ones want to nibble but not bite the hook.

How can we actually cull these BG when we are challenged with simply catching them?

They seem to only want to eat when the feeder goes off.

Tia

Cc

Crickets

There are forum threads discussing using Stubby Steves for just what you are experiencing. People have also been known to super glue pellets to small lightweight hooks, and to wrap and tie nylon mesh around pellets then run their hook through the nylon material.
My picky BG only eat meal worms; they leave the Optimal for GSF, YP, a couple of BCP and LMB in our pond. The latest artificial bait I've had good luck with is Berkeley's Honey Worm. You might give them a try.

This is the one to use. Original Stubby Steves

I use a #10 Owner Mosquito hook, and either 2# or 4# test line. I will put one on the hook, making sure that there is room for the hook point and barb to go into the fish and just cast it out without any weight or bobber. No snap or snap swivel. If you are having a hard time casting it out, use 2 pellets, hook the first one through the middle of the pellet and slide it up the line so it's covering the hook eye, the knot and part of the line. Then hook the 2nd pellet through a corner of the pellet. Watch for the line to twitch or move - those pellets do not swim by themselves.

What predators (species, size, number) do you have n the pond?

I’ve tried crickets.
Believe it or not they like the worms better!

Thanks for the tip on using the pellets themselves.
And how to hook them since they are dry and hard.

I have actually tried that and had a bit of luck but I swear I think they detect the hook on it.
They sure don’t attack it like it’s one of 100 floating on the surface.

As for predator fish.

Only LMB. We have caught some fairly nice warmouth and not sure exactly if they’d be considered a predator.

I recently caught a mid to large size snapping turtle and removed it. But no other predators that I know of.

Also I have not increased or changed the feeding routine by much at all in the entire year.
We catch lots of 1” and smaller frye size bf’s in our traps but nothing much bigger.


Cc

I doubt you will be able to use my hooking method on real fish pellets, that method was for the Stubby Steves pellets. The Owner Mosquito hook in that size is light enough to allow 2 pellets to float but it is still strong enough to catch at least 7# HSB without breaking.