Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - CNBG population control

I have seen the figure remove 60 lbs/acre/year of BG per year to prevent overpopulation. I have regarded this as a very ballpark figure, IT DEPENDS.The pond is heavy with the larger BG. Remove 180 pounds is not an easy task.

If the pond has moderate to heavy natural outside predation should not the number/acre be lower?

When the relative weights of the >6" CNBG are routinely very near 100% then the population is balanced for the pond if there are balanced numbers in all class sizes?

I have many CNBG >8" but very few with RWs at 100%, 80% is a more common number. I more often see 100% RWs in the <6" populations.

3 acre pond NE FL, hand feed 2 pounds/day, goal balanced CNBG/LMB fishery


All comments welcome.

I agree.

The only good snake is a dead one. Even if they assist in culling YBH.

If you look closely at this picture you will see that there is about a 6 foot snake that has captured the YBH. I know it was not venomous but it still needed to meet it's maker. The snake caught it while I was feeding by hand. When I saw it swimming sideways towards me. I thought "What is wrong with that fish" when the snake was about 2 foot from me it was obvious.

Attachments

Intermediate choices would be a Z-Trap or a regular galvanized Gee trap for small fish. A Fyke net would work, but I have never caught a LMB or HSB in a Fyke Net and only 1 SMB.

Electroshock is the gold standard.

I have no experience with Livescope.

The seine is my 2nd choice, but like you said if there are weeds or underwater cover in the pond, the seine isn't an option. Maybe in certain areas like a beach, but it's a small sample area. Two amateurs won't be amateurs after a while. The seine needs to be spread out on the grass to dry before putting away or it will mold and rot.

Catfish and bullheads are a royal PITA to seine. You better have a pair of side cutters to cut their fins out of the seine.

"Intermediate choices would be a Z-Trap or a regular galvanized Gee trap for small fish. A Fyke net would work, but I have never caught a LMB or HSB in a Fyke Net and only 1 SMB." Essup above.

I am Happy with my 2 Z-traps (Reel Texas Outdoors). I have used them to survey, cull, & mark my CNBG population. One is a larger trap with larger entrances . The second is a standard size with standard entrances. I bait both with fish pellets & both are effective. The larger catching CNBG as big as 9".

I have not only caught BG but also YOY turtles, Crappies (I didn't know were in the Pond), LMB 10.5" & 4", & last night a 26" 1.5LB Eel. What the *#! is that? Many Years ago I had removed two eels fishing for BnBH & thought they were gone as I had not encountered any since. How they got in the pond ??? It was removed as I thought at more than 2 feet it could easily raid any spawning bed it choose to at night. Perhaps this has been another one of my many problems.

Wow J.E., your z-traps gave you a bunch of data points on fish that you didn't even know were in your pond!

I think we need more recommendations to newbies for setting some traps when they take over an old pond with an unknown stocking history or a connection to another body of water.