Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Spot of two fish?

I was fishing in my 1/2 acre pond this morning and caught a bluegill and a large bass that had a red growth on it. Could this be the result of too many fish in a small pond? I know that this year and last year my bluegill,bass, and catfish have spawned. Over the last 2 years my fish are much larger and I have not taken that many out. I would appreciate any suggestions as how to correct this problem. Thanks.

Are you sure it was a growth and not just a sore? I think that it is likely the result of spawning stress either way.

It was more like a sore than a growth. I was worried since this is the first time I have seen any sores on any of my fish. Will the sores go a way or are they permanent. Theo thanks for the advice I am still a beginner but I hope to eventually have 1/2 of the pond knowledge that you have.

Craig, I have seen post-spawn (time-wise, at least) sores on BG and LMB most if not all years since they started spawning in my pond. Last year I noticed the same thing on CC for the first time.

Some of the CC have noticeable scarring (I presume from the same sores), but so far all the BG and LMB I have caught well after spawning season and before it have no marks I could see from previous injuries of this nature (healed, I presume). In the case of the LMB, such a high % have sores after spawning time (nearly 100%) that I must have caught many that healed without a trace afterwards. So I think most Centrarchidae spawning sores heal well.

P.S. I'm still hoping to have 10% of the pond knowledge of many of the amateur PMs here. To assign a % to the Pros would be too depressing.