Pond Bass Staying Small?

[EvanTram]

I fish a pond thats about 4.5 acres big stocked with black bass, crappie and blue gill about 7 years ago... We catch an abundance of bass, I mean almost every cast is a fish. This last summer between 3 guys we caught 160 bass within 3 hours but nothing bigger than a pound. We have constantly caught .5 pounders for the last few years and I keep coming back each year thinking I'm sure they have gotten fatter because the pond has tremendous vegetation. 2 years ago a buddy caught a 6 pounder but ever since them we haven't seen anything close. This is a private pond that only about 4 or 5 people fish every other weekend or so.

[Sam]

Too much food competition.

 

If you are allowed to harvest the small ones please do so.

 

Otherwise the bass will remain small.

[bigbill]

I fish mainly in smaller places too that are fished very heavy by people looking for there next meal. its very sad to see them taking even the 4"  long pan fish. I have noticed the decline in the bass population too.  But i have noticed what is the hot lure for this season wont be hot next year. i think fishing the same spots over and over and practicing catch and release the fish actually learn to stay from our lures. Each year i change my lures so the action will continue. I  even learned not to wear bright colors and to walk up  softly to my spot and dont step on any  rocks sticking out of the ground. When we step on  rock i he ground near the shore it sends vibrations  the water warning the fish. my buddy as pet goldfish i  his pond and at feeding time he taps a rock sticking out of the ground and the fish come to the shore so he can feed them. I figure this to be a warning sign to the bass. My point is the bigger bass increase the bass population there for your catching the smaller bass. Since the larger ones have been caught before there smarter now. I would suggest fishing early in the am when the bigger  gals are near  shoreline ambushing the fish.  And to change your lures and presentations too.

[Hyrule Bass]

the bass are stunted because there are too many bass and not enough food. and also because of the crappie. crappie will take over a small pond or lake. crappie and bass compete for food. i would thin out a bunch of bass and a ton of the crappie if the owner will let you. explain to the owner that the fish are stunted and removing a bunch will help them grow bigger and healthier.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Too many small bass. Take em out!!! Its a must

[EvanTram]

Wow quick replies, obviously there are way too many bass in this pond.. I will try to spread them to different ponds as soon as I get time. Would you suggest starting out with 150 small bass or something like 200-300? Thanks for all the help guys!!

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

A pond that big I'd say 150

[Larry227]

There's a small pond not far from me in no man's land between the US and Canada borders. It's owned by the local Rod and Gun club and if you're a member there you can fish it all you want but they have kept it C&R for decades now. It's not too hard to catch 50+ bass in a day but out of those 50+ you'll be lucky to see one over 2 lbs. 

After fishing it off and on for 7 yrs the largest I've seen come out of there was 3 1/2 lbs. I'm also convinced it's lack of forage. 

[BigMoneyGrip]

The bass and crappie are competing for the same food source. I'd get rid of the crappie.

 

I have a small pond, about an acre, that I have groomed for bass. My neighbor, who owns a small corner of it, puts crappie in it. Every crappie that I catch, goes out on the bank. The racoons really appreciate this kind gesture.I recently stocked it with $100 worth of flathead minnows and I want the bass to get them and not the crappie.

[EvanTram]

What do bass really eat? I mean this pond is 4.5 acres and has lots of vegetation so I would think that there is enough for everyone unless I'm mistaken for what bass eat, which I very would could be.

[EvanTram]

@ BigMoneyGrip I will absolutely be trying to take out all of the crappie I can. Seems like everyone agrees that crappie are not helping the situation at all. Even though my pond is still over 4 times bigger than yours should I get some minnows to throw in it also?

[moguy1973]

There's a similar situation at a local park near me.  Tons of small 4-10" bass in the pond.  Tons of small bluegill too.  The biggest bass I've caught out of it is about 2 1/2lbs, but most are less than a pound.  This pond was re-constructed about 4 years ago and since it's been available to fish in again it's been C&R only.  I think that's the big problem it having so many small bass.  On the other hand, if they open it to C&K, it will be wiped out by meat hunters that won't follow the length limits.  It's a double edged sword there.

[EvanTram]

I understand where you guys are coming from, but this pond is private and if you are not given permission to fish it by the owner then he will happily kick you off with a flash of his handgun he keeps on his hip. The same 4-5 fish it (with me included) and I'm the one who is out there the most regularly. All in all, I should probably just spend an afternoon catching the smaller bass and crappie and moving them to another pond? He has multiple ponds on his land.

[Hyrule Bass]

What do bass really eat? I mean this pond is 4.5 acres and has lots of vegetation so I would think that there is enough for everyone unless I'm mistaken for what bass eat, which I very would could be.

 

the bass dont eat vegetation. they eat other fish, crawdads, worms, bugs, etc... the crappie, they compete directly with the bass for the same food sources. i would start by removing a ton of crappie first, and then the bass. but either way, the turnaround wont be overnight...

[EvanTram]

Okay that's understandable I have been fishing this pond for years so I'm in no rush, just curious to why after years of fishing I've never caught a bigger bass. There's got to be atleast a 6 pounder in there.. Atleast

[BigMoneyGrip]

@ BigMoneyGrip I will absolutely be trying to take out all of the crappie I can. Seems like everyone agrees that crappie are not helping the situation at all. Even though my pond is still over 4 times bigger than yours should I get some minnows to throw in it also?

A good friend of mine here on campus, is a fish biologist. I'm gonna see if he can shock it for me and I'll just throw them out for the coons.  In fact, I'm gonna go see him now....

[averagebass123]

bring worms or crawfish once a week and feed them. they will get big soon..