Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Only large bass

Have a 3 acre pond that I stocked with minnow,bg and bass about three years ago. Have not removed any fish to date. Now when I fish I seem to only catch 20 inch bass (no complaints here) but ready nothing small or midsize. Also been trying for the last few weeks to catch some bluegills to get some idea of their population but can't get a bite. Nothing. Pond was down to about 1/2 its size this summer to work on it and because of no rain. I was thinking either I don't know how to catch bluegills or they don't bite this time of year or the bass ate most of them when the pond was low. If no BG remain and I go buy more won't the bass just eat them as fast as I drop them in the water.

I don't think they're biting yet, my pond is over stocked with them and they haven't shown themself's around the dock yet. I think the water needs to be warmer.

Just a thought...

If your bass have reached 20 inches in three years, I don't think they got that big eating fatheads only. You must certainly have a good backbone to that food chain.

What methods are you using to try to catch bluegill? Did anyone catch any last year, and how big were they at that point?

Good question. That helped me remember that last year I didn't catch many bluegills until about May then I was catching them all different sizes. I have a log that I keep but I don't have it with me today. I have been trying to catch the bg with a bobber and small round dough like stuff that comes in a jar in different colors. I can't remember the name of it but its for crappie fishing.

Berkley Power Bait Crappie Nibbles.

A small piece of live bait would give you a better chance at sampling. A little piece of nightcrawler or waxworm if you can get a hold of some.

I'm strongly leaning towards thinking you've still got plenty of 'gills.

Thanks. I'll try it. Don't want to spend more money on fish if I don't have to.

Sounds like you need to do a seine survey.

See this archive on pond balance methods. Fishing plus a seine survey will tell you a lot.

http://www.pondboss.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=22;t=000041

That bait you are using most definatly wont work in the winter, hardly works in the summer. Use a ultalight pole with 4 or 6 Lb test. Use a tiny split shot a foot up from a pretty small hook. Not to small or they will swallow it. Use part of a live night crawler or if you have smaller worms use them hole. Lay the bait on the bottom and your line should zip out in no time. Keep moving till you find where they hang out. My guess they will be close to the shallow end where the water warms up first. G/L

I agree with Joey; I have had the most luck with that type bait using it to confuse fish while they are feeding, since it's close is size/shape to feed pellets.

Live bait gets a lot better action from BG.