Which predator? - 08/30/17 04:40 PM
Recently I bought a property in central Wisconsin with a 1 acre pond, so I am new to the pond life. Great site, learning there's a lot I did not know!
Looking for some feedback on what the experienced members would do.
Basically a blank slate. Almost. The pond is loaded with Bluegill, we're catching some real nice 10" ones, all the way down to tiny ones, and a lot of them! Too many, from what I am reading. The previous owner had a winter kill a couple years ago that seems to have taken out everything else. A minnow trap is coming this week for another species sample.
An aerator is now installed. The pond is an isolated 1 acre in size, decades old, mostly 5-8 feet deep with a couple 11 foot holes. The bottom is fairly firm with no real structure to speak of.
The goal is a healthy bluegill population, without overcrowding.
My thinking is to add some sort of structure before the predators arrive. Which type of structure and how much?
I see LMB are often discussed when it comes to BG, is there any reason SMB should not be considered instead?
Anything I'm missing, what say the pros?
Thanks,
Joe
Looking for some feedback on what the experienced members would do.
Basically a blank slate. Almost. The pond is loaded with Bluegill, we're catching some real nice 10" ones, all the way down to tiny ones, and a lot of them! Too many, from what I am reading. The previous owner had a winter kill a couple years ago that seems to have taken out everything else. A minnow trap is coming this week for another species sample.
An aerator is now installed. The pond is an isolated 1 acre in size, decades old, mostly 5-8 feet deep with a couple 11 foot holes. The bottom is fairly firm with no real structure to speak of.
The goal is a healthy bluegill population, without overcrowding.
My thinking is to add some sort of structure before the predators arrive. Which type of structure and how much?
I see LMB are often discussed when it comes to BG, is there any reason SMB should not be considered instead?
Anything I'm missing, what say the pros?
Thanks,
Joe