Why Remove The Dinks?

[BassObsessed]

If there ever was a dictionary sample of a stunted pond it would probably be one of the private ponds I fish . 10 acres , depths up to 28ft and clear enough to see the bottom in 12fow is some areas. The pond was supposedly established with fish in the 80's and has thousands of bass but the biggest ones Iv'e caught in 10 years of fishing it is about 2lbs. Most bass are in the 1lb range. Catch rates are very high and some of the bluegill accidentally caught on crankbaits were 2lbs. It needs a major reduction in smaller bass but it's not my place to do it.

[the reel ess]

If there ever was a dictionary sample of a stunted pond it would probably be one of the private ponds I fish . 10 acres , depths up to 28ft and clear enough to see the bottom in 12fow is some areas. The pond was supposedly established with fish in the 80's and has thousands of bass but the biggest ones Iv'e caught in 10 years of fishing it is about 2lbs. Most bass are in the 1lb range. Catch rates are very high and some of the bluegill accidentally caught on crankbaits were 2lbs. It needs a major reduction in smaller bass but it's not my place to do it.

I fish a similar pond. I've caught one over 6 lbs and tha next largest has been 2 lbs. I like the Roadrunner in 1/8 oz and small Jointed Rapala to catch both small bass and large bream. Kills two birds with one stone. But you need help catching and keeping fish to really make a dent in the populations. Or you could fish every day of the week a couple hours.

[einscodek]

It depends on the body of water. Smaller bodies of water with limited public access would require more harvest of predator fish to prevent overpopulation and stunting as well as preventing a decimation of forage populations. Larger bodies of water typically doesn't have issues with stunted fish nor lack of forage but there are exceptions (e.g. invasive species impacting the Great Lakes). I took a look at the NJ freshwater creel and size regulations (http://www.eregulations.com/newjersey/fishing/freshwater/size-season-creel-limits/) and noticed a catch and release season.

 

My guesses are that either NJ decided that a high population (high catch ratio) of decent (medium) sized bass is preferred over a smaller population of larger sized bass (lower catch ratio)

OR

the amount of predator fish (bass, walleye, pike, muskies, etc.) has begun to impact forage and this is a preventative measure.

With the catch and release season, I'm leaning more towards the latter than former.

With enough forage and space, no harvest is needed to ensure a large population of small, medium and large fish. Of course, New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife may have decided new regulations on a whim without research/data. Illinois for example had an absolutely idiotic fishing regulation regarding Yellow Perch (closed season in July after Perch spawned but allowed perch harvest during the spawn    ) that finally changed this year http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/news/Pages/IDNRAnnouncesLakeMichiganYellowPerchFishingOpeninJuly.aspx

 

It depends on management goals - big trophy fish, large population of fish (usually for consistent harvest for consumption), a balanced approach to both? In a pond with the goal of huge bass, harvesting smaller bass is the cheapest way to go but definitely not the only option. You can use pond fish feeders (expensive), create habitat or areas that promote the survival and reproduction of more baitfish (could be expensive), etc.

Actuall as part of the NJ lunker lakes program they are trying to increase the populations of 5lb+ fish so they are after prize big fish.

Their change was to up the keeper limit to 15" on the lunker lakes.

[Raul]

Dink bass don´t compete with bigger bass for food, THEY ARE BIGGER BASS FOOD.

 

Dink bass compete with dink bass for food, the problem is that forage base can´t produce enough food for the population of dink bass to feed and grow so dink bass remain dink bass per secula seculorum.

 

Solution: Dear Mr Dink Bass meet Mrs Frying pan.

[RoLo]

Dink bass don´t compete with bigger bass for food, THEY ARE BIGGER BASS FOOD.

 

Dink bass compete with dink bass for food, the problem is that forage base can´t produce enough food for the population of dink bass to feed and grow so dink bass remain dink bass per secula seculorum.

 

Solution: Dear Mr Dink Bass meet Mrs Frying pan.

 

That is true, but to a fault.

The forage base of bass fry and fingerlings consists mainly of invertebrates (insects, larvae, aquatic worms~).

On the other hand, the difference in forage between dinks and toads is not as clearly defined. For instance,

we've all caught big bass on tiny lures, and we've all caught tiny bass on big lures (KVD landed an 11+ on a 4" fry worm)

Differently put, big bass eat small meals, and small bass eat large meals....provided it fits in their maw 

 

Roger

[Evintos228]

Actuall as part of the NJ lunker lakes program they are trying to increase the populations of 5lb+ fish so they are after prize big fish.

Their change was to up the keeper limit to 15" on the lunker lakes.

It will be interesting to see what kind of results they will get. Without knowing the data of these lakes (electro-fishing surveys, harvest numbers, juvenile survival rates etc.) it'd be tough to guess why NJ decided to inrease the limit to 15" minimum.

Another area of research that is loosely related to biomass and carrying capacity of ponds is aquaculture (fish farming).

Couple of pics found online.

Edited May 24, 2015 by Evintos228

[bigbill]

Bass eat gills. Eat crappie they taste better.