Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Sampling Fish Population at the Feeder

I have seen many posts over the years where people would like to sample the population they partially observe while the fish are consuming pellets.

Yet I do not recall a post on Pond Boss where someone described their good method of capturing the feeding fish.

I can imagine endless benefits: taking relative weights, calculating if fish are close to spawning, culling unwanted species or size of fish, observing fish for parasites, checking stomach contents, etc.

I would think if you used a feeding ring to really concentrate the fish into a small area, then they would be quite ripe for capture.


Does anyone have a good method to capture these fish when they are concentrated for feeding?

One possibility I considered is to use a lift net.

Lift Net Fishing

That might work if you habituate the feeding fish to having the equipment in the water for several feeding sessions?

We have some creative types on Pond Boss. If a bigger lift net is needed, then perhaps someone could create a long lift pole on a pivot on the dock, or even a poor boy jib crane.

Another possibility I considered was to build a buoyant "cage" of large diameter PVC pipe.

Make the bottom third enclosed in netting. Use the largest opening size possible that will still contain the smallest fish you wish to include in your sample. (Large mesh to reduce water resistance as the trap is rising.)

Put a concrete anchor on the bottom with a stainless steel pulley. Run a rope to the dock. Release the rope while the fish are actively feeding, and capture the entire feeding ring plus all of the slow/surprised fish.

Final possibility was to build an electroshock survey system right at the feeding point.

If you have AC electricity at the dock, it should be much simpler to create a small, stationary system compared to the portable systems in survey boats?

If you have some DC deep cycle batteries available, can you build a system that is capable of one good discharge?

Are the commercial electroshock units available to pond owners?



All of the ideas above are strictly from a non-expert that has NEVER performed the proposed task.

All better ideas and even better questions/considerations would be appreciated.

I bet if we create a workable design, then someone will start using it.

Following...

Fishing at the feeding area with Stubby Steve's or Berkley Power Eggs while chumming with fish feed catches fish that love eating feed, but IME mostly lands the large(st) ones. Definitely not a cross section of all sizes of those that feed.

Thanks for adding that one, Theo.

Catching mostly the largest ones, can actually be a benefit in and of itself. For example, putting a few fish on the dinner plate, making an enjoyable day for kids at the pond, etc.