Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Analyzing TJ's Pond- Evaluate My Fishery

So TJ and I came up with an idea the other day that maybe some others might want to take advantage of as well....Evaluate My Fishery: Past, Present, and Future Management and Expectations....What brought this thinking along was the fact that TJ's pond is currently producing right now as we speak trophy fish of several different species...But given his pond's young age, and the advice he has gained, I wouldn't expect anything different... BUT producing big fish right now doesnt mean his pond is set up for longterm success of consistently producing trophy specimens of all those different species...I have some thoughts for him to consider, but basically we agreed this could be very interesting for the open forum and not only would others learn from his experiences, but yall could do this for your own pond as well to get some of the best fish minds in the world to offer you some suggestions and advice....

So here are a list of questions to help us analyze his fishery, and prompt some discussion of not only what he could have done better, but also some ideas for him for things he could be doing now to ensure that every year at his pond only gets him closer to his goals, whatever they may be....

If this type of format appeals to anyone else, by all means start your own thread using these questions about your existing body of water or even your conceptual pond...We should all be able to learn a little something about growing rates, etc from this data as well as offer some suggestions....

I have a feeling that collectively with all of us put together folks will benefit greatly from this type of thread...also I would love to fine tune these questions as I am just plopping down my thoughts here as I write, but know I will indeed miss some important questions that could be asked....

Also if others do indeed decide to use this format, I could use a little help from the moderators or grammar geeks making the description and instructions a bit more streamlined for better future use...

The questions can seem vague, provide as much detail as you care to write. Obviously the more detail the better the results....

Evaluate My Fishery- TJ's Pond.

When was the pond built?

How big is the pond?

How deep was it then?

How deep is it now?

Average depths?

How long did it take to fill up?

Does the water level fluctuate much?

What is the primary soil type?

What type of land is the watershed drainage into the pond?

What is the typical water clarity?

Have you ever had the water quality analyzed? Results?

What is predominant vegetation growing in and around the pond?

Do you do anything about the vegetation, explain?

Aeration?

What fish were stocked initially, what sizes, and when?

What fish have been stocked since initial stocking?

What fish have been removed since initial stocking?

Whats the biggest fish of each species caught to date and when?

Whats the average size of each species in the pond currently?

Do you feel you have all age classes of fish represented adequately in the pond? Explain...

How do you feel about the fish habitat in the pond?

Do you feel the fish have enough to eat year round?

Do you supplementally feed, what kind food, how often?

What was the best year you can remember for fishing in the pond?

Why do you think that was?

What was the worst year of fishing?

Again Why do you think that was?

What fish size/species would you like to see less of in the pond?

What fish species/size would you like to see more of or introduced in the pond?

Would you like to harvest more or less fish annually?

What are your future plans for the pond in regards to human interaction/management?

What decisions have you made that now in hindsight you would do differently?

Overall what is the ultimate goal for your fishery and how close are you to obtaining it?

Once you obtain that original goal, then what?

What else do you feel is important to know about your pond and the land that surrounds it?

There you go TJ, you have your work cut out for you, but figure out the best way to answer those questions and then I probably will have some more for you to answer...then we can get into some thoughts for consideration for keeping your pond a trophy multi species fish factory.....

I read the title, repacked my bags, grabbed the GPS, rods and tackle box and started to head out the door to Nebraska, with a stop in Illinois planned on the way back. Then I thought I'd better read the rest of the post.

It wasn't what I thought it was..............

I was ready for some hands on evaluating!

You and me both Scott! Actually, I'm standing at his gate right now wondering where everyone else is at.

Seriously, looking forward to seeing where this goes. Both for TJ's pond and going forward. Basic, but necessary questions for sure.

Evaluate My Fishery- TJ's Pond.

When was the pond built? 2008

How big is the pond? 2.5 acres

How deep was it then? 16' max

How deep is it now? 16' max

Average depths? 8'

How long did it take to fill up? 60 days

Does the water level fluctuate much? 2-3' max, supplement with 50 gph well

What is the primary soil type? clay

What type of land is the watershed drainage into the pond?
Virgin tallgrass prairie
What is the typical water clarity? 70-80" Winter, 36-48" balance of year

Have you ever had the water quality analyzed? Results? No

What is predominant vegetation growing in and around the pond? Submergent: American and either Sago, Horned or other similar pondweed. Emergent: Arrowroot I several light planktonic algae blooms annually
Do you do anything about the vegetation, explain?

5 Grass Carp keep vegetation coverage limited to 15-20% pond. I spray all Cattails once they reach 6-12" height


Aeration?

No

What fish were stocked initially, what sizes, and when?

Summer 2008
100 Adult GSH
500 FHM
50 Papershell Crayfish
400 YOY CSBG

Fall 2008
380 3-4" YP
700 4-6" RES

Spring 2009
1500 Grass Shrimp
250 GSH
10# FHM

Fall 2009
300 Pellet trained SMB
120 6-8" HSB

Spring 2010
Stock 3 14" WE

Summer 2010
HBC [blackstripe] escape from experimental pond to main pond - estimate 150 HBC stocked during Summer during several flow through events.


Fall 2011

100 4-6" WE

Summer 2012

50 4-6" HSB

What fish have been stocked since initial stocking?

See above

What fish have been removed since initial stocking?

Harvested two 23" HSB, 40 YP, Removed hundreds of CSBG

Whats the biggest fish of each species caught to date and when?

HSB - 25.5"
YP - 13.25"
HBC - 15"
BG - 9.5"
RES - 9.75"
WE - 22" advanced fish, 14" stocked fish
SMB - 17.25"

Whats the average size of each species in the pond currently?

HSB - Range from 22 - 25" with some smaller fish coming up from last year's stocking

YP 10-13" but seeing recruitment in cage and throw nets

SMB 14-17"

HBC 12-13"

BG 3-6"

RES 4-7"

WE 11-14"

Do you feel you have all age classes of fish represented in the adequately in the pond? Explain...

No, most HSB are age 4-6. Am beginning to ladder stock annually with smaller numbers.

I stock top 1% of SMB recruitment in pond annually from reproduction pond - 15-20 fish annually. Many age classes present

I have YP recruitment, but catch frequency continues to decrease

HBC are all original stocking, not catching any apparent age 2 or 3 fish

RES and BG recruitment, but fish are on small size range

How do you feel about the fish habitat in the pond?

Very little artificial habitat. Natural habitat through timber and vegetation covers 15% pond. Helps BG management with less cover

Do you feel the fish have enough to eat year round?

Predators WR is strong with steady pellet program, BG, and GSH

Do you supplementally feed, what kind food, how often?

Yes, AM 400, 500, 600 March-October 8 seconds/day

What was the best year you can remember for fishing in the pond?

2012/2013

Why do you think that was?

HBC, SMB, HSB, YP all at peak sizes

What was the worst year of fishing?

First year of stocking

Again Why do you think that was?

low population of small fish

What fish size/species would you like to see less of in the pond?

BG and small RES

What fish species/size would you like to see more of or introduced in the pond?

More large YP, more large RES

Would you like to harvest more or less fish annually?

More

What are your future plans for the pond in regards to human interaction/management?

Continue to manually remove BG and supplementally stock SMB, HSB, and YP as necessary

What decisions have you made that now in hindsight you would do differently?

No BG stocking. More deliberate forage stocking to avoid BH introduction. More careful with HBC management - prevent escape fish from main pond introduction.

Overall what is the ultimate goal for your fishery and how close are you to obtaining it?

I wanted a predator heavy pond with good sized fish and am there. I'd love to have an opportunity to frequently catch good RES, BG and YP. Starting micro fishery [.4 acre] dedicated to Male BG, RES and female YP to provide that opportunity.

Once you obtain that original goal, then what?

Keep it going - help others emulate/create their own fisheries

What else do you feel is important to know about your pond and the land that surrounds it?

Josh is at TJ s gate at 11 pm and nobody is around. Sounds like you should start evaluating the fishing and report back!

My sarcasm radar was shut off. I get it now Josh geeeeze!

TJ, different feeders throw the feed at different rates. How many pounds of feed do you throw per day?

Josh said he's getting cold waiting...

I just saw bigfoot at TJ's place. Drinking a diet Pepsi. For real.

Really did you get a picture?
That's awesome!

Nice post, very informative!!

Thanks for all the help you guys give on this site, TJ N8ly Essuh, and all others!!

TJ do you plan on adding any artificial habbitat?? Larger sized mabeye?

Texas Hunter on main pond - aqua pro feeders on the micro ponds. Feed 4 or 5 1-2 second bursts every evening over the last two hours of daylight/twilight. I'm trying to expose my BG to predation during low light feedings and also encourage my YP to feed and grow. I'm not sure I'm accomplishing either goal, but evening feedings also allow me to witness them most often, too. I could easily feed 2x more, but I don't see my fish needing it - I'm pretty happy with their WR and want them to try and utilize natural forage more anyhow.

Man, that's not a short drive for Dwight. Was the Stick popping holes in my pond and catching all my YP?

Pond unfortunately already has too much woody cover for my liking, two creek arms were underwater before they could be cleaned out thoroughly, so they are full of young flooded cedars, ash and cottonwoods. Provides plenty of opportunities for YP to lay egg strands at any rate. I want less cover so my BG population is more easily/readily utilized as forage with fewer places to hide/escape. In my particular fishery less habitat is the way to go.

I do have 80T of limestone points, piles, ridges, etc. built in several places for Crayfish/SMB, but I never fish those areas which is weird. I can catch fish until my fingers bleed sitting on my dock.

Cool Beans!! Cant wait to see your pond. Do you pull ever BG out that you catch or do you have a size limit?

I am reading some of the back logged posts about your Black stripes too. I will have questions when im done.

Good report. Those HSB numbers are strong. Is that above average growth for northern waters? What are those 25"ers weighing?

Good question Randy, I never weigh my fish, I just eyeball and take a length measurement from time to time. I would have to estimate those 25" fish are 7-8#. Obviously in the Fall their WR is higher due to having a full season of pellets, BG, and GSH to hammer...maybe they could be approaching 9-10#.

TJ, that's great. A 7-10# HSB is a hand full!!! I love those fish.

Good thread and good idea. My only comment so far is the thread should be in the Section: Managing Existing Pond; Evaluating & Adjusting Fish Populations. Located in the Questions and Observations makes it too hard to find later.

Okay - one addition should include: How are the fish sampled to 'gestimate' the average sizes or numbers(?) of each species.

My evalution is performed through observing fish during feeding times and angling sampling.

TJ you need to also use traps and or seine for survey purposes.

I do use cast nets and minnow traps baited with AM LMB pellets. 90% of my cast net catch is BG and occassionally a YOY YP or GSH. Sometimes I'll get a larger HBC or SMB with the cast nets, too. The minnow traps are BF tadpoles, BG, and Crayfish.

do you think you are going to add some more HBC?? to this or the other pond?

Ever thought about tagging? I am guessing thats not your style.

Ever ate the HBC or stomach pumped them just to see what they where full of?

And how about the muskrat problem? haha!

Speaking of 'rats, I set 2 conibear 110's in my pond last night and one had a 'rat this a.m.

I think they tunneled into the island and are digging into the pond banks to feed. (digging up rooted plants)

The plan is to let the pond drop for the rest of the winter, and hopefully it'll flood or at least hit full pool this Spring. If that happens, it should flood them out of their dens.

I wont be adding HBC until I can verify their fecundity, or lack thereof.

Tagging would be cool...that's been on my list of considerations.

Yes we've harvested a dozen so far, mainly invertabrates [I think, black mush] and the minnows they were able to steal off our slip bobber rigs.

I keep cattails sprayed so muskrats haven't been too much of an issue, at least I don't think. I never see any swimming, but do see some holes from time to time.

The reason you are catching less YP is that we are transferring them to Bremerpond. Check the device we planted in that 16 foot spot and you will see how it is done.

We don't want anyone to know about our lunker YP so we are always wondering where they are.

TJ:

When humans are around, 'rats go nocturnal. They're there. If you go to the windward side of the pond, do you see pieces of freshly dug up or cut off pieces of plants or pondweeds?