Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Wiper Fraternity (or sorority, if you prefer) and Bullheads

Yesterday, I caught my first ever HSB! I must say it is pretty neat to catch a healthy, hard-fighting 2 pound fish that you once held as a fingerling. I felt like I had succeeded in completing a rite of passage of some sort.

On a more interesting note, my dad and I also removed 73 bullheads by hook and line in just 2.5 hours. Unfortunately, a neighbor has hundreds in his pond, and they end up in both of our back ponds when the creek rises after a big rain. He also has carp and alligator gar, but I don't want to think about that right now. We didn't realize how many bullheads made it into the larger of the two ponds until we were enjoying ourselves on the pier, anxiously awaiting for the feeder to go off. A few minutes before feeding time, the bullheads moved in and literally covered the surface of the water in front of the feeder.

We had been fearing/expecting this, but our hearts sank as our pellet-trained LMB, BG, and RES were cheated out of a meal by the fat, aggressive bullheads. Nothing is worse than seeing these fish devour Aquamax 400! The bullheads had probably been at this awhile as they had the timing down perfectly. The next day, we went on a search and destroy mission, and it seems that we at least dented the population. I caught only four more today, along with a few LMB in their second growing year and 6-10" gills.

We don't know how many bullheads remain in that pond, but I'd guess 150-250, all from 4" to 1.5 lbs. We're relocating our second feeder that was already on that pond to another spot, and will try the same technique after the bullheads begin coming to that one. Unlike my experience with CCs, the bullheads never seemed bothered or scared by us catching so many of their friends. They remained in the same area (near the feeder) and kept falling for our offerings. Has anyone had any similar experiences with bullheads? Are these exceptionally unconditioned fish, or are they just "dumber" than CCs or other types of catfish? I imagine their relatively small size (and thus young age) contributed to their catchability, as well as the fact that the pond gets little fishing pressure, since we are trying not to disturb the LMB too much until they get another growing season or two under their belts or we being seeing more yoy LMB. The BG, however, are ready for a harvest. Any tips or suggestions on what to do and how to do it?

First great work on the HSB. You are now addicted to raising and catching your own.

Yep 2 ways at least. Seine deployed and used as per pic below or a lift net (some call it a drop net). Deploy them at the feeder and leave them for a week . Then come back and harvest. I like the seine method better .



Feed into the open area between the seine and the bank for a week. When the fish start feeding good pull in the coiled net via the shore line and drag them to shore.

That's a much better idea than what I had. I was going to suggest using a funnel trap and some cheese bait. We've used them and bullheads are pretty easily caught. www.nylonnet.com I couldn't find it on their site, but it's part #ft5

I, too, am about to get medieval on my bullheads.

I was throwing out feed last week, and they really got on the gravy train. Just nasty.

I'm going to try some of those plastic trash can type traps and see what they do.

My guesstimates make me think I need to remove 300-400 bullies in order to sleep better at night.

Thanks for the replies, gentlemen.

Eric- that is a great idea, and we'll probably try it in a week or two. My only worry is that there are still LMB, BG, and HSB coming to the feeder, even though the bullheads are the ones bullying them out of food and staying on the surface. We'll probably catch some of those LMB and BG with your technique, and I hope we can get all of them back in the water quickly and painlessly.

Cheyenne- Trapping is also a good option. I like the cheese bait idea...that should catch the bullheads and not many of the other species. Maybe some HSB?

Sunil- Good luck, and I'm afraid the numbers you suggested for removal in your pond are a more accurate figure for our pond than what I initially estimated. Let me know how you do it and what works best for you. Watch out for the spines when you handle them...they remind me of the poisonous saltwater catfish, which we call hardheads. I eventually just started wearing an old work glove on my left hand to grab them when we were catching so many. It works well and you can grab them quickly without worrying about how you're handling them.

Dave, the bullheads are conditioned to the feed. Get a nylon paint strainer bag and put some(?) feed in it. Hang it in a large trap and toss some pellets around the sides when you submerge it. It doesn't hurt to leave some pellets loose in the trap. You will also get some bluegills but they can be released.

I think the cheese will trap bullheads only. The pellet idea is good as well, but you will trap some BG, I don't know about HSB but we haven't caught any with cheese

Cheese sounds good to me.