How many of you guys have fishing rules for your pond?
I've been told before that I’m kind of anal about things, but I figure I paid to have it built on my land, stocked, aerate, feed, treat unwanted vegetation, plant desired vegetation, & build and setup structure so I should be able to manage the way I want.

My Rules:
All male bluegill must be released and all mature females must be kept. To this description:
Differentiating between male and female bluegill
All male large mouth bass must be kept and all females released. To this description:
Differentiating between male and female LMB
All Mature Redear can be kept.
All channel cats must be kept and never released
Always use the provided EAGLE CLAW L702 CIRCLE HOOKS Size 6, barbless hook, or hooks with the barb pinched down. Only exception is when using stink bait for catfish and turtles.
Always wet your hand before handling a fish.
Always use provided forceps when needed to unhook a fish.
Always hold a Bass vertically by the lower jaw so you don’t dislocate the jaw and have an open mouth to unhook the Bass so it can be RELEASED ASAP unless it can be correctly identified as a male.
Record the date and type and number of fish KEPT on the paper supplied.

My pond is just two years and that we are just now starting to fish it so some of this rules may change if needed.

I like your rules. Personally, I'd institute a rule that stated "release all redears over 10 inches". That would allow more room for trophy redear production.

Muddy Fork, I also allow no nonsense on my lake! You're right, I paid for everything and if they want to fish in this lake, they play by my rules. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

You can't fish in my pond unless I know you can & will obey the rules & limits. This year's edition:

1. All Hybrid BG come out.
2. All GShiners come out or feed the catfish.
3. CCatfish 17"-20" harvestable. Return larger or smaller.
4. Harvest BG 6" - 9". Definitely Female BG >9" can also come out.
5. Redears 8" - 9" harvestable now they have spawned.
6. All LMB returned.
7. If you kill it, somebody eats it.
8. Report species, size, and condition of all you keep (report all you catch is requested) plus fishing time.

I had an argument with my 10 year old over rule #3; compromise is the "feed the CC" clause. She fed them 14 GShiner carcasses tonight - we saw them eat 5-6 of them (neat!).

This is my first attempt at rules. The reason I said all mature redear can be kept is because they're so hard to catch unless spawning. Is there a right way to restrict their harvest without interfering with my goals of trophy bass and bluegill?

Yeah, I need to post some rules to but I don't want to be quite as strict as yall are here...it will take the fun away...

Sounds kinda like redears restrict their own harvest.

I've had good success with recommending harvest length maximums. It allows for harvest but protects that lucky sun of a gun who grows big. Maybe you're even protecting some good genetic quality...like luck.

It's also a relatively easy rule to follow. "Keep any that you want under "X" length".

I have couple of rules not listed so far:

1. A LMB slot limit of 12"-16.5"

2. No LMB fishing at all in the months of March and April.

3. All catfish out.

4. A set limit of LMB to be kept for the year. (predetermined)

Most of my rules are for correct catch & release which we all should practice unless you keep everything. The other few rules are to promote big fish and we all love catching big fish. Just the thought of catching a monster will be the main reason to fish my pond. If you just want to catch fish go to the nearest public hole.

If I could get the poachers and meth cookers to follow rules, I would post them.

BTW, the Sheriff's Dep't and Game Warden now has keys to my gate. I learned a lot from them. One of the questions they asked is whether I had found any empty ether (starting fluid) cans. Well, yes, I have and was perplexed. It appears that they poke a hole in the bottom of the can to let the propellant out. Then they use the raw ether to cook the dope. Kinda spooky. I now have a .357 on the seat next to me when I enter my gate and go to the house. Now, I consider that a damn shame.

Muddy Fork,

I like your rules. Thanks for posting them...and you have every right to set them...its the golden rule, he who has the gold (in this case pond), rules.

My only modification would be to require release of all HSB, Tilapia (except in the fall and then all would be kept) and grass carp (in the unlikely event one is hooked).

I moved away from my property about six months ago and have rented it out. I have implemented the following rules for the renters.
Fishing is restricted to the renters only with the exception of children.
No bait allowed, flyfishing or spoons or spinners only. Children are exempt from this rule.
General pond maintenance, clean-up as required.
Remove snow from pond within one week of new snowfall.
Children must be supervised by adults.

I also include no fishing during the week. Friday night through Sunday night only. Otherwise my daughters would be out there everyday and the fish need a rest!

Bob

My rules are:

All LMB 12" and under come out

HSB are catch and release

No minnows for bait(unless caught at the pond)

Muddy I like the rules too.
I will have rules for sure and feel having rules helps the pond/lake stay in top condition always.

(side question) How can you tell the difference when not in spring between the sexes on bass? It seems to me, this would be hard to tell the difference?

BD,
I stocked my catfish, bluegill, redear, and fathead minnows in April of 04, but I just stocked my F1 bass this month so it will probably be two years until I have to worry about that. What I'm thinking is that unless my length to weight is off I'll only keep the bass that can be identified as a male.

I don't have a pond yet, but I have started on some rules that I would probably have in place. These are pretty common sense:

* No utilizing pond for ANY purpose without specific permission from owner.
* All fishermen are required to fill out the provided fishing catch log.
* No live/dead bait may be brought in and used without permission.
* Only circle hooks allowed and no barbs allowed on hooks (pinch them down).
* All fishermen are required to follow Harvest Regulations.
* Any species caught not listed on Fish Stocking and ID board, notify owner right away.
* Obey all No Fishing Zones (NFZ) marked on the pond map.
* No Fishing in or near the marked swimming area.
* Swimming not allowed without permission and designated adult supervision (if under age of consent).
* Swimming allowed in designated zone only.
* Wet hands before handling fish. Keep handling of fish to a minimum.
* No culling allowed.
* Use provided trash receptacles.

We have very simple rules for our pond:

The most important one is, call before you come out for each trip to the pond.

Pond closed to fishing during the spring duck migration.

Largemouth harvest slot of 12-15" is encouraged, under 12" LMB are protected (state law), over 15" LMB are protected, our pond rule.

State bag and possesion limits apply on LMB & BG.

No frog hunting.

No fishing after 9 PM

"We" being you and the government? :rolleyes:

What if you had too many small bass, causing them to be stunted? Would they be kind enough to allow you to remove some?

Sorry about that. It just grates on me when the government thinks they can manage our ponds better than we can.

P.S. I like your rule to throw the big ones back. That's the best way to keep the BG thinned out (if needed!) and ensure plenty of future bass catching fun.

The pond belongs to my folks, thus the "we", I'm the fisherman in the family so I have a lot of input on management of the fish in the pond. PS I usaully catch & release over a 1000 LMB a year out of our pond, and yes some of those are caught more than once.

In Nebraska you can get special permision from the Game and Parks to remove small bass under 12" which we have done before but it takes a lot of effort to get that permission. Technically there is not a lot they can do unless the LMB under 12" actually leave the property. As a catch and release guy I have real hard time putting LMB on a stringer but find myself doing so when they start getting over-crowded.

In Nebraska, state bag and size limits apply to all private bodies of water that are connected by "inflow or outflow" to other bodies of water, which by their account would include most private bodies of water in NE. State regulations also aplly to private bodies of water that have been stocked with fish provided by the G & P. In order to skirt those rules one must retain a reciept for all fish that were privately purchased and your pond cannot be connected by inflow or outflow to other bodies of water.

Are you in Nebraska, Russia?

Still in Nebraska! Just telling you what the rules here are as interpreted by our Game & Parks divison, but hey, we don't have enough CO's to properly check regulations on public bodies of water let alone all the private ones as well. IMO the rules I listed are pretty much un-enforcable. Even the NE G & P biologist who helped us with stocking our pond in the mid 80's admitted that there was little they could do as far as enforcement of rules so long as the fish did not leave our private property.

It's not a big deal, in years past when we have had too many LMB the NE G & P has come out and electroshocked fish to be stocked in newly renovated public bodies of water, they do have a nice electroshocking boat and I have been out in it a few times with them. It's a win win situation for both of us. Despite some of the quirky regulations in NE the Games & Parks really do a fine job here in helping private pond owners. They even have one full time biologist dedicated to private waters.

Because I fish primarily for BG and a pond which is bass-heavy, my rules are a bit different from most.
1. Must have specific permission before each fishing trip.
2. No minnows.
3. All bass caught must be kept or killed.
4. Any Tilapia caught before September must be returned to the water.
5. Returning redears to the water is encouraged.
6. Do not “help” with fertilizer, plants, fish from other ponds, etc.
7. No throwing used plastic worms, etc. into the water.
8. No discarding bird-nests into the water.
9, If you see trash, pick it up. If I see trash after you have fished, it’s yours and you are history.
10. No shooting.
Lou, 13.5

Heronblu,

Why no minnows?

Are you afriad they may be baby carp or other invasive types instead of standard shiners?

What are the most common shiners sold at bait stands in the south? We just call them "shiners", and I never learned the species name. Would they be harmful in a pond?

bobad, most in SE are golden shiners "crappie minnows" and tuffies also called fathead minnows. In most of todays pond around here they are bass heavy environment. THis means little chance to establish even if you dump the bucket at the end of the day.

The no use of minnow rule was strongly enforced since the 50's forward. Things have changed and George might do it for other reasons but I say throw this rule out if for reaons mentioned.

I had printed a business size card with abbreviated rules. I give them out to those I allow to fish/hunt my place. They must call for permission to come out for that day.They are not to come out without my knowledge. Do not bring anyone else unless I have given my OK. They must have A license .They must abide by my game/fish limits I have posted.They are not to tell others of my place! Leave no mess. The card has a line for their name and length of time{day/month/year}

Shorty -- nice to see your positive comments about the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologist. IMHO, they are a pretty darn good outfit.

Dave

Unless you are present at your pond to supervise the fishing and all other behavior, there is only one sensible rule:
ENTERING THIS PROPERTY FOR ANY PURPOSE IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN. VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

I agree with Dudley about 98%. There is a list of people I would let fish my pond while I was there. There is a MUCH shorter list of people I would let fish my pond while I was NOT there (it's pretty much the same short list of people who I let shoot or hunt on my place).

Dave, here is a link to their private water program. The NE G & P folks really are good bunch of guys.

http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/fishing/guides/fishguide/FGprivate.asp

Thanks, Shorty.