Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Where do I start

I live on a natural lake in central Florida which is spring fed. The consists of three springs. The first is about forty feet deep the second thirty and the third about fifteen (very small). The surface area varys but lets just say an average of about ten acres. I want to manage the fishery for mostly sport. This summer has seen a significant rise in water level and an abundance of bluegill their are huge schools of these fish in the three inch range. In addition we have had a bloom of submerged weeds that make fishing difficult. I have lived here for six years and have seen this before just after we first moved in then the water level dropped and they were no longer a problem but it appears to be letting up with the changing season. My questions are.

1. Since this is a spring fed lake and a constant 72 degrees would there be a trout that would survive?

2. Would Grass carp be a good idea?

3. I have read in other threads to remove Bullheads,if ths is true i have a big problem, why?

Any and all advice is welcome.

"E"

1.Have you monitored the water surface temp? You have a unique situation if it is 72 in the heat of central FLA. It needs to be below 70 though to have year around trout.

2. Depends on what weed you have but in most cases they do a great job on the weeds. try to stock at least 12 inch sizes to survive bass and 5-15/acre in general terms.

3. Bullheads succesfully spawn in a pond meaning large numbers survive and they do not attain sizes as good as channels. It sounds like you may have a low number of bass if there are lots of intermediate bluegill. Good luck, sounds like you got a good place for growing some big uns.