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

The seine has to be 1/3 taller than the deepest part of the pond, and there can't be much in the line of weeds or underwater habitat to impede the seine moving smoothly along the bottom of the pond. Moving the seine slower is better than moving it fast - fast picks it up off the bottom. Try to move the bottom of the seine in front of the top of the seine. If the top is moving faster than the bottom, fish have a tenancy to squirt out under the seine. They also squirt out of the seine if the bottom of the seine doesn't stay on the bottom of the pond.

If the RW of the bass isn't increasing, then there are 3 things that could be happening. 1) Not enough forage fish of the correct size to feed the number of bass in there. 2) Not enough cover/habitat in there to allow the bass to loaf and ambush their prey - they could be constantly swimming and looking for food. You want fatter bass, not marathon runners. 3) There could be too much cover in there for the BG to hide in and escape predation.

A lot of people don't realize just how many fish of the correct size it takes per year to grow LMB bigger.

Take a bass that is 12" long. To get it to 16" in length. That single LMB needs to eat roughly 500 Bluegill that are 3.5-4" per year to gain 1 pound. Multiply that by how many LMB are in the pond and you will quickly see why I don't recommend taking out brooder BG.

Now this is being said by looking at the information that you have furnished via angling. Data from an electroshock survey could be completely different and would result in a different management plant o get the pond turned around.

I would feel much better if an e-shock survey could be done.

J.E.,

Sounds like you are doing a LOT of good work on your pond.

I expect you are slowly going to see some modest improvements, and then all of a sudden see a big improvement when things get close to a nice balance.

(Of course, since I am a fisherman I am an eternal optimist at heart.)

2) Not enough cover/habitat in there to allow the bass to loaf and ambush their prey - they could be constantly swimming and looking for food.

I believe this is certainly part of the problem. I have added some brush. As the water warms up, I will add some large plastic barrels along with 6 Cedars Bill Dance Porcupine Fish Attractor Spheres. I have constructed items in the past but certainly not enough.

Thank you for your ideas & help. It is much appreciated!

You might have a long way to go. 25% of the surface area should be cover for the fish.

Think of large openings between "branches" as habitat for bass, brush is more suited as cover for Bluegills.

Fireishot had that problem in his pond. He added a BUNCH of cover for the bass, in addition to multiple electrofishing surveys that removed a LOT of bass.

Before I go 8 miles down a dead-end road, I need help figuring out if I am even headed in the right direction.

Since the summer of 2023, I have been trying to bring a > 35year old 3-acre pond in North Florida back into balance. The goal is just a balanced pond with easy fishing, no trophies. There were very few small forage fish & few LMB, all skinny, for a 3-acre pond. I have been removing all underweight LMB & I think I am turning the corner. I am able to trap (Z trap) 4-8" CNBG. I have decided it is time to change my culling technique, considering more than just RWs.
I have reduced the number of skinny LMB over the past 3 summers. Fishing effort has gone from .7 fish /hr. to .16. although the RW have changed little and are still in the 75% range. Most LMBs are still in the 11-13-inch range. I very rarely see or catch anything in the <11inches.

New Data:
Using BG 4-6" as bait has yielded a new group of LMB 15"-20". In the past I have used small artificials, targeting >13". LMB caught this year have RWs 80% as opposed to the last 3 years of 75%. The angling PSD '23-'26 for LMB is 73 (Is on the high side). Small LMB 8"-10" & smaller are rarely seen or caught. LMB caught average 14" & 2lb.

Using traps primarily (limits BG to <8") & recorded >600. With limited angling added, the number is >700 BG. My BG PSD is 38 '23-'26. I believe this would be a higher number if angling was a more equal part of the data. On hook & line very rarely is a <7" BG caught. Rarely are BG <3" seen. Visibility year round 24-36". BG average length 5.7". Average weight .18lbs. RW average 87. I thought the RW would be a bit higher as I feed 4lbs a day.

The pond does have MF, some GSH, & some BTP as part of the forage base. Weeds & other structure have been a limiting problem, but I am working on it.

All comments & suggestions welcome, with a goal of bring the pond into balance.

What further Data would be helpful?

What should be done considering new data?

You are making progress. Keep feeding the BG and removing small underweight LMB. The comment " Using BG 4-6" as bait has yielded a new group of LMB 15"-20" " indicates that you have Fla LMB and or hook-shy LMB (catchability issue). The data is good but learn to do a seine survey to id small fish / and spawn status.

Yes, they are FL LMB & they are hook shy.

I am concerned about not seeing or catching LMB YOY. It will take care of itself, just give it time? Something I should consider doing?

The BG PSD is biased because of the trap opening size. So many more were caught in the trap. If this was strictly an angling survey the BG PSD would be higher, perhaps 50-60. I think the 50 is more realistic. Although that is still WNL.
It will take care of itself, just give it time? Something I should consider doing?

Do a seine survey.
Last time I tried one, I was skunked. Zero small fish.
Almost daily, I walk the bank looking for small fish & throwing the appropriate size of food. I have a specific area strictly for observation of who is coming to dinner, small MF, GSH, CNBG, & BTP. No YOY LMB seen looking for fresh sushi.

It all Depends?

Did you try the seine survey about 60 days after the spawn?
See this link

https://www.mdwfp.com/sites/default/files/2025-04/Pond%20Management%20Book%202024.pdf

https://extension.msstate.edu/natur...t/fish-management/checking-balance-seine