Adleyfishes Posted June 30, 2015 Posted June 30, 2015 I have a small pond right next to my house that's over populated with bluegill. That may sound good but there are barely any bass and they're all tiny. Also this pond used to be a quarry. What should I do to bring up the bass population? Quote
Josh Smith Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Unless you have authority to manage the pond, there's not a whole lot you can do. Keep and eat the small bass and all the bluegill would be a start, but unless it's a private pond you need to follow state law. Josh Quote
Super User bigbill Posted July 1, 2015 Super User Posted July 1, 2015 Eat the bluegill or feed your garden. One of the older guys I meet fishing makes fish cakes. Don't take bass let them grow. 1 Quote
Breakin heads Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Put some 3-4 pound bass in it. they will help control the perch population. 2 Quote
Adleyfishes Posted July 1, 2015 Author Posted July 1, 2015 Unless you have authority to manage the pond, there's not a whole lot you can do. Keep and eat the small bass and all the bluegill would be a start, but unless it's a private pond you need to follow state law. Josh I am able to keep fish and partly manage this pond. Quote
Josh Smith Posted July 1, 2015 Posted July 1, 2015 Adley, I should have asked prior to telling you to eat the bass: Do any bass appear stunted, or are they just young? I also agree with the above suggestion to drop a few larger bass into the pond since you can! Regards, Josh Quote
Adleyfishes Posted July 1, 2015 Author Posted July 1, 2015 Put some 3-4 pound bass in it. they will help control the perch population. I like your idea my grandpa has a good friend who owns a pond. In this pond last week I pulled out a 5 1/2 pound bass on a frog. I discussed this problem with the pond owner he said exactly what you said. Next time I fish there I am going to take some big large mouth bass and put them in our partly owned pond. 1 Quote
Adleyfishes Posted July 1, 2015 Author Posted July 1, 2015 Adley, I should have asked prior to telling you to eat the bass: Do any bass appear stunted, or are they just young? I also agree with the above suggestion to drop a few larger bass into the pond since you can! Regards, Josh The bass in my pond are small because the blue gill are acting as a predator. This is bringing the bass size down and population. The blue gill are enormous lately we have been throwing blue gill on the shore... I hope this pond becomes healthy. Quote
Shanes7614 Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 To the best of my knowledge.... Even private ponds unless licensed as "pay to fish" waters are still the property of each individual state. I would contact your local marine biologist and make sure this is not the case. As removing large bass from one pond that maybe state owned into a "private pond " could still be considered illegal. Also think of the possibilities of spreading any disease that may come from the supplying pond and the effects it may have on your private waters may do more damage then good. Best bet is to fish for such panfish and take as many as legally possible out each time you visit. What you do with them after is only your business. An old friend used to fertilize his garden with "garbage " fish and till them in each spring and grew tomatoes theorize of cantolopes. Lol 1 Quote
CrazyFluker Posted July 2, 2015 Posted July 2, 2015 Score a few legal bass in another body, making sure it meets the minimum, and cut them loose in the pond and I'd have a fish fry for the bluegill with bacon. Quote
Super User Solution Jig Man Posted July 2, 2015 Super User Solution Posted July 2, 2015 I looked into having one of my ponds stocked. I was told by a fisheries biologist to harvest 20 bass per acre per year and never throw a gill back. Quote
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