Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,899
Posts557,071
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,411
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
14 members (Shorthose, Justin W, Requa, Freg, DenaTroyer, Blestfarmpond, Snipe, RAH, Rick O, bstone261, Theo Gallus, esshup, jpsdad, Bing), 770 guests, and 184 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
Hello everyone,
I am new to PB but have read tons of info already. I'd like to offer a summary of what our pond holds and ask the forum for help/advice.

Roughly 2 acre farm pond that has not been "managed" in 10+ years.

I began fishing it about three years ago and a typical 2-3 day trip would yield:
- several 3-5# and countless 12-14" LMB
- maybe 20 black crappie per day
- possibly worth noting that I was catching some crappie on a 4" Texas-rigged brush hog, which I thought was strange

Fast forward 3 years and our last trip yielded:
- not a single LMB over 14"
- could catch crappie until we run out of minnows

I've caught exactly 2 bluegill in the three years I've fished there. My thought process on stocking this fall is to stock plenty of forage for the LMB and add some hybrid striped bass to help control the crappie.

200 Overton's BG 1-3"
200 Overton's BG 3-6"
100 Redear sunfish 1-3"
100 Redear sunfish 3-6"
50-75 Hybrid stripers 8"

Please feel free to punch some holes in it. Thanks everyone!

Last edited by TexasRyan; 06/15/20 08:12 AM.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,938
Likes: 268
Moderator
Lunker
Online Confused
Moderator
Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 13,938
Likes: 268
What exactly are your goals? A return to the presence of larger LMB?

How many LMB under 14" did you catch? Are the LMB not present or just all small (I presume the latter)?

Adding BG & RES would be a good thing if you see none and the LMB are stunted, though I would get the larger size so they don't get et. I would not add more predators (HSB) to compete with the LMB; it seems your main task should be small LMB (and crappie) removal.


"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
[Linked Image from i.pinimg.com]
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by Theo Gallus
How many LMB under 14" did you catch? Are the LMB not present or just all small?

During this last trip in May, the 6 of us caught maybe 25-30 LMB in the 12-14" range. They're definitely there but all small. This pond is my stepfather's family farm and they have done nothing but keep a couple of BCP to eat on occasion. They throw everything back. I've finally talked them into letting me help manage it to enhance the overall fishing experience.

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
Originally Posted by Theo Gallus
What exactly are your goals? A return to the presence of larger LMB?

How many LMB under 14" did you catch? Are the LMB not present or just all small (I presume the latter)?

Adding BG & RES would be a good thing if you see none and the LMB are stunted, though I would get the larger size so they don't get et. I would not add more predators (HSB) to compete with the LMB; it seems your main task should be small LMB (and crappie) removal.


I'm not sure why I didn't see your other questions the first time.

Yes, overall goal is larger LMB. Is my mix of smaller and larger BG and RES a good start? Focus on just the larger ones? What about the numbers for a 2 acre pond? Thanks for the response!

Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
Anyone?

Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 6
R
Offline
R
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 64
Likes: 6
Just a cheap novice here, but what I've done is remove predators by hook and line until the bluegill could rebound on their own. I removed 245 bass from 3" to 13" in a 2.2 acre pond over a period of a 18 months. I also removed approx. 250 crappie. I had bucket stocked nearly 300 MALE crappie over the previous 3-5 years (huge mistake that played a significant role in the decline of the food chain). I added an inexpensive feeder and feed Aquamax MVP 3 times per day. My bluegill population then recovered. I've since stocked 50 feed trained bass. They now range from 2-4 lbs and have pulled off spawns the past 2 years. The non-feed trained bass I'm catching right now are ranging from 95-110 on the relative weight chart.

Just my personal experience with my own pond. Hope it helps.

1 member likes this: Andrew Epperson
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
T
OP Offline
T
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 5
Thanks for the responses. Much appreciated!

Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
P
Offline
P
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
I have just the opposite problem,large bass and few crappie. The crappie population was high and they were 8” or so. There are numerous 10# bass that ate the crappie down to the point that you could fish hours and not catch one. Think my main problem is no recruitment from crappie due to too many BG swarming the crappie breeding


Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 AM
Alum vs Bentonite/Lathanum for Phosphorus Removal?
by DenaTroyer - 03/28/24 09:38 AM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by esshup - 03/28/24 08:45 AM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by esshup - 03/28/24 08:36 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by Justin W - 03/28/24 08:19 AM
Reducing fish biomass
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 08:18 AM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:05 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/27/24 06:02 PM
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by Bill Cody - 03/27/24 10:18 AM
2024 North Texas Optimal BG food Group Buy
by Dave Davidson1 - 03/27/24 08:15 AM
Freeze Danger? - Electric Diaphragm Pump
by esshup - 03/26/24 09:47 PM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5