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
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 29
I
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
I
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 29
About a year ago I was granted fishing access to a small 1/4 acre circular pond that was stocked about 8 years ago. The owner's estimation of maximum depth is about 10 feet in the middle and it's basically a featureless bowl shape with a large fountain in the middle. The shoreline is riprapped with softball sized rocks out to a depth of about 3 feet, and there is no other structure in it that the owner knows of.
My buddy and I fished the pond three times last year and had no problems catching many bluegill with an average size of 6". We also caught 8 largemouth bass that averaged 12" and one bass that was a solid 2.5 pounds. We released all the bass and kept 30 bluegill on one of our trips.
Given this limited knowledge of the pond, can you give me any suggestions on what would be a sustainable harvest of bluegills a few times a year?

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 478
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 478
WAG - 8-12 lbs / yr if blue dye is not used. With blue dye 4-5 lbs. A 6" BG will weigh close to 2.5 oz ea, thus 6/lb.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/11/12 08:17 PM.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 29
I
Lunker
OP Offline
Lunker
I
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 29
I kinda figured somewhere around 60-80 bluegill in the 6" range per year, thanks Bill. And there is no dye in the pond. We have caught some nice 8" bluegills as well, and most of the fish including the bass seem to have healthy body weight for thier size.

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 478
B
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Offline
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
B
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 478
Maintaining that harvest rate could result in a corresponding reshaping of the size structure or body condition of BG and or bass. I suggest that you keep catch records of exact sizes and relative body condition (skinny, average, plump) of every fish that you catch. The records will tell you to maintain the catch rate or adjust it. You may have to harvest 1-2 bass per year to maintain the current size structure of the fishery. I would harvest close to the largest bass caught each year or every other year and maybe just the gut hooked ones.

Keep in mind that for skewing the BG population toward larger individuals we suggest that you harvest primarily the females and release mostly larger males.

Last edited by Bill Cody; 08/11/12 08:56 PM.

aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine -
America's Journal of Pond Management

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