Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Too Many Brooders??

The lack of small BG to me is an indicator of too many LMB and not enough forage. If it was my pond or a pond that I managed, I'd remove EVERY bass that I caught, not just the low RW ones. That would minimize the hook shy ones. Keep removing LMB until you get a balanced size distribution of BG in the pond. Larger LMB won't target smaller BG, but they WILL eat smaller LMB.

After the size of the BG get more varied, only then would I think about removing any BG that are big enough to reproduce. Remember not all of the bass in the pond will strike at a lure. That is why e-shocking is used to check fish populations and not angling.

Your LMB not growing to me means that there still isn't enough forage in the pond for them to grow.

In my personal pond, I tell anybody that I allow to fish it that EVERY LMB that is caught gets removed. 5 pounds or 3 inches, ALL come out. After 5-6 years of that, there are still LMB reproducing in the pond and this pond is only an acre in size. In the summer if I see smaller LMB cruising the banks I will go to a small bait and 2# test line to specifically target them, sight fishing for them whenever I see them.

If the catch rates of the LMB in the pond start dropping, then go to live bait. #2 wire hook tied directly to the line, 8# test fluorocarbon line, a weight 12" pinched above the bait to keep it at a certain depth and a bobber that is enough to keep the bait from taking it under the water. I'd try fishing with 4" golden shiners.