Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Corrective stocking BCP MANAGEMENT IDEAS

Population Characteristics of Black Crappies in
South Dakota Waters: A Case for Ecosystem-
Specific Management
Christopher S. Guy & David W. Willis
To cite this article: Christopher S. Guy & David W. Willis (1995) Population
Characteristics of Black Crappies in South Dakota Waters: A Case for Ecosystem-Specific
Management, North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 15:4, 754-765, DOI:
10.1577/1548-8675(1995)015<0754:PCOBCI>2.3.CO;2


Black crappies commonly overpopulated small
South Dakota impoundments. Some authors have
suggested that crappies overpopulate small impoundments
because recruitment is relatively consistent
(Bums 1956; Jenkins 1958). Thus, growth,
size structure, and condition are poor in small impoundments
overpopulated with black crappies.
Gabelhouse (1984a) and Boxrucker (1987) found
that a high-density population of large mouth bass,
composed primarily of individuals less than 30 cm
long, could reduce crappie recruitment such that
surviving crappies reached sizes of interest to anglers.
Guy and Willis (1990, 1991b) documented
reduced recruitment of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus
and yellow perch in small South Dakota
impoundments with high-density largemouth bass
populations. They suggested that fisheries managers
could manage for quality bluegill and yellow
perch fisheries in small South Dakota impoundments
by maintaining a high-density largemouth
bass population, with most largemouth bass less
than 30 cm. We surmise that high-quality black
crappie populations could be developed in small
South Dakota impoundments containing a highdensity
largemouth bass population. However, the
habitat must be appropriate to establish a highdensity
largemouth bass population (Guy and Willis
1991c). Guy and Willis (1994) stated that crappie
populations in South Dakota's large reservoirs
and natural lakes were influenced primarily by environmental
factors.

Interesting information I have a large population of LMB but my BCP is declining probably due to the large LMB and 8-10� and smaller.i would prefer to have more BCP than LMB but looks like the other way around at this point. Any ideas how to juggle the numbers to get a few more BCP or wait til they have a good spawn

Pat, I have exactly the same situation. My BCP are 12+in. and not many smaller and lots of LMB. We do harvest most all LMB less than 14 in. Maybe that's backwards and we should be harvesting the larger bass. I am not sure how well our BCP spawn but our LMB have no issues with that at all. I am considering adding some 8+ in. BCP this spring but that may be counter productive if I can't figure out the problem.

I knew there was someone out there that liked BCP. Lol they are hard to figure out but I�m hoping to get them figured out eventually. We gonna need all the brains out here to do this. Maybe someone with experience with BCP can help us out with what to remove or add as far as LMB. I also have CC and BC that are 5-7#

We also have CC, with the largest caught was last fall at 13.5 lb. Our pond is a 10 A. rock quarry. The one thing that has always confused me is any time we catch a BCP they are very healthy and nothing thin like we catch in the Mississippi or lakes near us. Our BG are different age classes to show good recruitment over the years. The last few years we have added a lot of structure both in shallow and deep water but does not seem to help our BCP. From what I read maybe we should consider ourselves lucky but in 10 years nothing has changes with our Crappies.

so your saying your 5 acre pond has a creek flowing into it? arnt u afraid of trahs fish ruining it?like bullheads gsf bowfin gar ect

Nah it�s a seasonal creek only nothing but sand.... water at times

Bringing this thread back to life.
Since past years has not brought the overpopulation that was forecast. Still have some BCP but not as many as I want due to being eaten or not spawning. Been 11 years since they were put in. This is the first year where weather was possible for spawning. If they pulled off a spawn how long before I would know? The shad perished last year with cold and low water(4’low). Since they migrate after swim up to open water what is best way to see what took place? Fishing or what?

Caught a few BCP on jigs at night in 7’ water beyond solar light

Not sure there is an easy or scientific way to tell, as they do swim out to open water, or seem to, one seldom sees yoy from BC, and it seems like you seldom catch small ones that are from the most recent spawn.

I know Ive been really curious for the last yr, wondering if they had a decent spawn last yr because I couldnt afford enough to fully stock my pond, due to the fact that I had to buy bigger ones to keep the LMB that had a couple yrs on them to not eat them all as snacks.
I was happy to find a few pretty good sized schools of them in the brush and landed several of them that were about 5" long, I assume last yrs hatch.

At night they seem to like to hang in the fringes of lighting in the water. Fun to see the tell tale "tick" telegraph up the line when they inhale a jig. Good times.

What sizes did you catch last night?

One was over a pound at least and the others were 3/4 lb or so . All nice fish. Hope they spawned. Aught to get some minnows. Also caught large BG at that same depth. Hauled the Bg off to a neighbors pond, several were over a pound couldn’t get hand around them to remove hook

I’ve also been very curious about how they do their thing and why about 5-6” is the size you catch a few at a time. Last year I put some 12-13” ones that I caught from my neighbors pond that when there was a lot in my pond before the LMB et them . Maybe they will get busy

I did catch a bunch of bigger ones too, in a couple spots, all males on the nest, waiting on the ladies that were hanging around in the outskirts, plum full of eggs.
So so far I am pretty happy with the recruitment that Im seeing.

Caught a half dozen 2.5 lb LMB too, tons of BG and GSF and a couple 20" walleye.

Im thinking between the CC, LMB, and WE, plus an otter or two passing thru on his way to the happy hunting ground, I wont have any problems keeping populations in check.

Saw a pod of 3/8-1/2” long babies near pier, to short for LMB kinda like maybe BG . Is it too early for BG to spawn? The BG were hitting them fairly hard….

Pat,

I am just seeing BG spawning activity and I am a couple of hours north. Today is the first I have seen this year (though it has been 3 or 4 days since last there). The beds are cleared down the native caliche gravel and males are guarding nests. I also saw a pair of LMB in the throes of mating.

Do you have a way to drop some cedars or other brushy trees and anchor them in a little bit deeper water away from most of your other cover?

IMO that gives you a chance at concentrating smaller crappie away from large predators. Perhaps you could catch some small crappie in those locations this fall with small hooks and see if you did have a spawn this spring (or in subsequent springs)?

I have plenty of cedars the hard part is getting them to deep water, guess I could tie rope to them and cross pond and use tractor to pull across to the right depth, probably float them then paddle out and tie sand bags to sink them….. what ya think?

I’ve done that. Once.

Pat,

I have only put out deep structure when I was part of a work crew with lots of manpower and lots of large boats. Therefore, I have zero expertise on setting structure in deep water with limited resources.

However, from other people on the forum, I believe it is easier to get everything ready to sink and then move it into position with "floats". You just cut free your buoyant objects once you reach the correct location. I think(?) a couple of bleach bottles with handles might be enough to float two cedars and a cinder block into position.

If you need more buoyancy, then those big blue barrels can usually be purchased very cheaply when they contained difficult to clean contents.

If you are seriously considering this project AND would be doing the work by yourself, then perhaps start a new thread. There are definitely some safety issues when moving heavy objects in proximity to water by yourself. If you get better advice than mine, you might get the easiest and safest procedure possible.

I've pulled cedars, both weighted and floated,.and without weights with row boat, boat and motor, and vehicle. Simply having the anchors with rope attached in the boat with me has become my choice. My trees float well enough that I can pull them to deeper water then reach over the gunnel, tie on the weight, then jettison the works.

Would you have the trees standup or flat and how deep of water

Event or cinder blocks for weight.

Dave I have gotten where I use sand bags to weigh stuff down. Not sure how long feed bag type material last before it deteriorates

Pat, the cinder/cement blocks are heavy, convenient to tie onto, and keep everything in place. Due to some much appreciated heavy rain, mine are now about 8 ft from shore. The cement blocks go nowhere and now most of the cedars are under water. Since, I have no shortage of cedars, I’ll probably get the grandsons to cut some more.