Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking 15 years of small bass,HELP!!!!!

I know of a 2 acre pond, surrounded by trees, clear water, looks perfect. The only problem is when it was stocked it was only stocked with bass. Now it has thousands of tiny 1/2 pound bass, nothing else. We have taken out over 500 in one day without any sign of change. Do I have to kill it off,or is there still hope to stock some large BG. I honestly believe we could take out 100 fish each on our family fishing trip. on a 2 acre pond can there be that many fish or are we catching most of them on those day and then their number just repound that quickly?

If you can stock adult BG, big enough to spawn, in numbers big enough (I'm guessing a minimum of 100 an acre), you should be able to establish a forage base. Pennsylvania's DNR Pond data actually promotes stocking LMB only in ponds, with the proviso that BG can be added later if desired.

Of course, you will still be taking out hordes of small bass for some time (for several years, I would think). And be aware that the stunted LMB remaining will not reach the size that newly spawned bass in a pond with a good forage base would, since much of their lifespan is gone. The yet-to-be-spawned descendants of your current bass should be able to reach the size their genetic potential allows. CW says that there should be a few larger bass (ones who got big enough to eat their stunted relatives) in the pond. You may want to add some fresh LMB blood AFTER you get the numbers under control a little to provide a some genetic diversity.

IMHO either route can get you to a balanced pond or a big bass pond, although renovating will be faster. I'd say pick the approach that appeals the most to you.

I always hoped that a larger bass was in there , if there was or is then it has yet to be caught.

JW, you can just never tell. Very few people have seen the Loch Ness Monster and none have caught it. I think fishing beats rotenone any day.

However, reality says it could take several years to create a really good fishery by continually fishing, culling and stocking big forage. But it's fun and it works if you stay with it and keep records. Starting over isn't as much continual fun. Either one works.

JW: There might be a larger bass in there. Here's my story. I had a 60+ year old pond. It used to be an incredible pond with catching 6 lb bass and 1 lb gills not uncommon. People used to sneak into it from miles (at least 20 because we caught some from that far) away. Not much management took place. A few channel cats were stocked. Later, I tossed in 4 large crappies (pre PB days). Fishing it, would only catch hords of small bass (1/2 lb) and a few small thin crappie, or small thin channel cat. I finally said heck with it and cut the dam a little ways at a time so we could catch fish as going downstream. Then we cut it all the way and have left it that way ever since.

The pond had oodles and gobs (hundreds) of small bass, several crappie of 2 lbs or so, several small crappie, several channel cat from 2 to 4 lbs, 4 or 5 huge grass carp, 2 or 3 small bluegill or green sunfish, and one bass of 6 lbs or so. I think back to all those little bass and crappie I caught and wonder why I never caught the big crappie or bass. Maybe I needed to up the size of the lure I was using or maybe I needed to use live bait. Don't know, but there just might be a big bass in there yet - I just wouldn't bet on it.

If it were me, I'd catch out all those little bass you can and stock it with large adult bluegills.

You can also try catching a 6 or 8 inch bass and use it for bait. If a larger bass is there, that is it's food source.

Burger has the right idea, but you can also use a larger bluegill. At times we catch a 1-1.5 lber. and a 6 lb. or better will hit it on the retrieve. We don't hook many like that but it sure exciting to see that big boy coming after the small ones. And it lets you know they are there. I am curious to know if it is illegal to use a bass like that for bait on private water. I know it is on public lakes and reservoirs.