Overpopulated. What To Do??

[akunk23]

I'm fishing a farm pond that is overpopulated I belevieve. Just about every fish I catch is the same exact size and very small. I've caught a couple 3 pounders here and there but is very rare. I went out todsy for 2 hours and caught 57 bass between me and a buddy. What would you do? Just keep catching the fish and taking them out and eventually it'll get better?? I'm not sure how to approach it

[Catch and Grease]

Have a good ole fashion fish fry! Or maybe a few fish frys lol

[Sam]

Remove the smaller ones.

[Crestliner2008]

Like C & G above....eat fish! And lots of it.

[everythingthatswims]

Get the little guys out and put golden shiners in!

[RoLo]

Target another waterbody.

Trying to prune out the runts, is like bailing out the ocean.

 

Roger

[Dwight Hottle]

What RoLo said. But if you insist on trying to solve the problem take every bass out under 15".

[dignan2121]

It could be freshly stocked.

[tatertester]

Net the pond, throw back all decent sized bass and what else you want in there, use the smaller bass for fish fertilizer...Stock bait fish.

[Bigbass37]

Net the pond, take out the small ones, throw them into creeks/rivers or lakes near by.

[Kevin22]

I'm fishing a farm pond that is overpopulated I belevieve. Just about every fish I catch is the same exact size and very small. I've caught a couple 3 pounders here and there but is very rare. I went out todsy for 2 hours and caught 57 bass between me and a buddy. What would you do? Just keep catching the fish and taking them out and eventually it'll get better?? I'm not sure how to approach it

 

 

I would call your DNR/DEC and ask the hired fisheries biologist what his advice would be. It could be a forage problem, over population, poor water quality, or a dozen other reasons. Taking a ton of fish out might not help the problem. They are there to help the public, so give them a call and ask for help. 

[Kevin22]

Net the pond, take out the small ones, throw them into creeks/rivers or lakes near by.

 

 

Please do not do that.. not only is it illegal in almost every state (probably IS every state), but it will introduce any diseases or non native aquatic life that might be in that pond to the neighboring ecosystem. That could be the cause of the issue, so why ruin the whole area??? 

[Missourifishin]

Please do not do that.. not only is it illegal in almost every state (probably IS every state), but it will introduce any diseases or non native aquatic life that might be in that pond to the neighboring ecosystem. That could be the cause of the issue, so why ruin the whole area??? 

Exactly. Not a good idea.

 

I agree with the guys who said have a fish fry. A huge fish fry.

[Bluebasser86]

I have a couple ponds and small lakes I fish often that had the same problem. Started removing every non-keeper sized bass several years ago. Now those bodies of water have much better quality fish and the fish are healthier and fight much harder. As an added bonus the crappie and bluegill got much larger and more plentiful as well. 

[Mainebass1984]

I'm fishing a farm pond that is overpopulated I belevieve. Just about every fish I catch is the same exact size and very small. I've caught a couple 3 pounders here and there but is very rare. I went out todsy for 2 hours and caught 57 bass between me and a buddy. What would you do? Just keep catching the fish and taking them out and eventually it'll get better?? I'm not sure how to approach it

 

For a couple years or so keep  few smaller fish to eat every time you fish that pond.

 

 

Get the little guys out and put golden shiners in!

 

 

I am not familiar with your states regulations but stocking fish is illegal in many states even if it is only baitfish. I would contact our local biologist or game warden and ask him what you should do. 

 

Net the pond, take out the small ones, throw them into creeks/rivers or lakes near by.

 

This is a terrible idea !!!! The result of this could be the introduction of diseases as well and/or introduction of fish into waters that may not otherwise have them. It could change the ecosystem of the creek/river/lake FOREVER.

 

It terrifies me some of the ideas that come up on this forum sometimes. Stocking fish whether it is game fish or baitfish isn't something that should be taken lightly. There are unseen consequences for such introductions. Consequences that once started can never be reversed. Stocking fish into an ecosystem that otherwise doesn't have them changes that ecosystem for ever. Not only the ecosystem of the creek/river/pond/lake that you would get stocked but every river/creek/lake/pond in that watershed. Examples this happening are Asian carp and Snakeheads not to mention the unintended introduction of aquatic vegetation, milfoil  and water chestnut are good examples. Like I mentioned before it is highly illegal in most states. I am not sure what the punishment is in your state but in Maine it is a 25,000 dollar fine, up to 3 years in jail and the loss of your fishing license for life. Most states may not be s harsh as Maine's but the penalty for illegally stocking fish is never just a slap on the wrist or a 100 dollar fine. Fish stocking should be left to your regional biologists.

[CTGalloway21]

what size is the pond?  If you google fish management, it will tell you a good # of lb per acre to harvest a year.  

[everythingthatswims]

For a couple years or so keep  few smaller fish to eat every time you fish that pond.

 

 

 

 

I am not familiar with your states regulations but stocking fish is illegal in many states even if it is only baitfish. I would contact our local biologist or game warden and ask him what you should do. 

 

 

This is a terrible idea !!!! The result of this could be the introduction of diseases as well and/or introduction of fish into waters that may not otherwise have them. It could change the ecosystem of the creek/river/lake FOREVER.

 

It terrifies me some of the ideas that come up on this forum sometimes. Stocking fish whether it is game fish or baitfish isn't something that should be taken lightly. There are unseen consequences for such introductions. Consequences that once started can never be reversed. Stocking fish into an ecosystem that otherwise doesn't have them changes that ecosystem for ever. Not only the ecosystem of the creek/river/pond/lake that you would get stocked but every river/creek/lake/pond in that watershed. Examples this happening are Asian carp and Snakeheads not to mention the unintended introduction of aquatic vegetation, milfoil  and water chestnut are good examples. Like I mentioned before it is highly illegal in most states. I am not sure what the punishment is in your state but in Maine it is a 25,000 dollar fine, up to 3 years in jail and the loss of your fishing license for life. Most states may not be s harsh as Maine's but the penalty for illegally stocking fish is never just a slap on the wrist or a 100 dollar fine. Fish stocking should be left to your regional biologists.

In Virginia, we can stock private ponds with whatever we want, with the exception of some invasive species like common carp, grass carp, asian carp, snakeheads, etc (there is a list on the DGIF website) of course I'm not going to start dumping shiners into public bodies of water (most already have strong populations of them anyways) but in farm ponds and private bodies of water, I don't see the issue?

[Mainebass1984]

In Virginia, we can stock private ponds with whatever we want, with the exception of some invasive species like common carp, grass carp, asian carp, snakeheads, etc (there is a list on the DGIF website) of course I'm not going to start dumping shiners into public bodies of water (most already have strong populations of them anyways) but in farm ponds and private bodies of water, I don't see the issue?

 

Stocking private ponds is completely different then a public body of water. As long as you get the fish from an approved source there isn't an issue. Taking game fish/bait fish from bodies of water and then transporting them to a private pond is completely different. Not only would you be transporting that fish but any virus/disease/pathogen that is in the water as well as any weed particles that could be in the water as well. I am not sure about the laws where you live but here it is illegal to transport live game fish.

[Glenn]

Take out as much as you think you should, then double it.  No joke.

 

Here's more detailed information:

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/small-bass-overcrowding

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/overpopulated-bass.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/big_bass_ponds.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/slot.html

http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/lake-limits-fish.html

[Comfortably Numb]

Most important queastion I see is who owns this pond?

[RoLo]

Most important queastion I see is who owns this pond?

 

"You're on private property, son" 

[FrogFreak]

I would call your DNR/DEC and ask the hired fisheries biologist what his advice would be. It could be a forage problem, over population, poor water quality, or a dozen other reasons. Taking a ton of fish out might not help the problem. They are there to help the public, so give them a call and ask for help. 

 

Yes, in all seriousness, please call before you do anything that may get you in trouble. It's not clear if you own the pond, where the pond is located, what the regulations are in that area etc

[Hyrule Bass]

Most important queastion I see is who owns this pond?

 

i agree with this. you cant just go doing things to other peoples ponds without permission from them(the landowners/pond owners). if its not your pond, no need to go calling the DNR, stocking minnows and all that. if you can keep fish from that pond, then thats what i would do. some land owners ask anyone they let fish it to catch and release. or is it a public pond? because then the scenario changes...

[F14A-B]

You must own that pond, or have written permission to remove those dinks, other than that sometimes it is the only way to help a pond become more balanced

[Hyrule Bass]

i doubt he has to have written permission, verbal will probably be fine. although, i understand some states do require written permission from the land owner to do certain things...