Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Ice Fishing - Finally!

Larger pond still had some iffy ice around edges under the snow that dropped last night, but this micro pond [1/3 acre] had 3" today so went for it. Popped a few nice BG 8.5" - 10" and several YP 11 - 13". Managing this as a trophy fishery stocked only with female YP and male BG - goal is to have nearly every fish in trophy status in the next couple years. Feint BG colors are due to the fact the pond was turbid most of the year as crayfish population exploded, denuded the pond entirely of vegetation, and stirred up the bottom so clarity dropped to under 12" - total chocolate milk. After extensive trapping and 500+ Northern Crayfish removed and stocked into the larger ponds this Fall, the clarity is back up to 36". The absence of apex predators with gape capability to hammer adult crayfish lead to a population explosion - lesson learned! BG colors will hopefully improve over the Winter and will lose the washed out appearance. Still satisfied with the overall body condition of the BG and YP - relative weights averaged well over 100 for both species - the goal is 120+. Forage base in this fishery consists of Northern Crayfish, Grass Shrimp, and Fathead minnows [Crayfish more for vegetation management]. Hope to hit it again the next several days - 14 degrees tonight should help build the larger pond ice. Felt good to finally hit the hard water!