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?
Last edited by J. E. Craig; 07/28/26 12:46 PM.
