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
Posts557,082
Members18,451
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,414
ewest 21,474
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
8 members (homewardbound, Justin W, Sunil, DenaTroyer, Freg, Donatello, jludwig, catscratch), 756 guests, and 207 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#17784 11/02/02 06:51 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 14
F
Member
OP Offline
Member
F
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 14
I have a 5 acre pond with bass up to 8 pounds - but no bellies, girth. Forage fish are bluegill, and small bass. We see a lot of bluegill every spring and summer, but nothing now. It would seem the healthy-looking bass are not getting enough to eat, but could there be another answer? Thankyou.

#17785 11/06/02 10:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,346
Likes: 96
Editor, Pond Boss Magazine
Lunker
Offline
Editor, Pond Boss Magazine
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,346
Likes: 96
It could be a combination of population dynamics of bass, and what forage fish are available.
For example, if your big bass aren't gaining weight right now, it could be their particular size forage fish are temporarily gone. For example, an 8 pound bass tends to eat large meals, like a 10-12" bass. If this year's hatch is hovering in the 6-8" range, they are not likely targets for big bass for another couple months.
Another possibility is that competition lower on the food chain, especially young bass eating smaller fish, are eating the buffet before those fish can grow larger, into big bass food. So, sometimes, big bass have to wait, until the pond produces enough forage for them to eat. Remember, big bass are females, which lost a significant amount of weight at spawn last spring. They will likely regain their weight by early spring, and that weight will be seen in their ovaries.
The best advice is this...have a professional fisheries person evaluate your lake. That way, you will absolutely know what needs to be done, if anything.


Teach a man to grow fish...
He can teach to catch fish...

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by Sunil - 03/28/24 12:39 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 11:01 AM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 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
Questions and Feedback on SMB
by Donatello - 03/27/24 03:10 PM
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