Fisheries Biologist consultant wanted

[FryDog62]

I’m part of a fishing club at a quarry lake system in Florida that includes 3 connected lakes that make up approximately 500 acres. 
 

The club has talked about how we can take a good fishery and make it great. So I suggested we look for a fisheries biologist that could come here and evaluate the lake in terms of - water quality, cover, bait, etc. and make recommendations. 
 

It would be most beneficial to find someone familiar with not only Florida freshwater fishing, but the uniqueness of a quarry.  
 

I snooped around a bit, but have come up empty.  We don’t have a lot of $ to offer but would entertain a consultant’s fee. Maybe in exchange for a few days of fishing in the warm sun in Naples… lol. However, we really need an expert -

 

Any suggestions how to find this person? 

[looking45]

Your local Fish & Game office should be able to put you in touch with their biologist. Don’t waste your or the biologists time if you don’t have a fairly fat wallet. It’s not a job that can be done in a couple of hours. Good luck

[GaryH]

I slept at a Holiday inn express last night! Does that count? 😁 

That is a good idea you have. 👍

[FryDog62]

11 minutes ago, looking45 said:

Your local Fish & Game office should be able to put you in touch with their biologist. Don’t waste your or the biologists time if you don’t have a fairly fat wallet. It’s not a job that can be done in a couple of hours. Good luck

FWC down here is pretty much focused on saltwater from what I’ve been told and doesn’t have a resource for us.  The group had previously contacted a local university too hoping for a grant, student, etc. w/o luck… 

[looking45]

If you have to bring in a biologist from out of The area, you aren’t going to like what he’s going to charge you. I suggest you just fish the lakes and enjoy them

[TnRiver46]

Im a wildlife/fisheries biologist but I’ve spent 99% of my career on the wildlife side, however I’m always listening to offers 😂 

 

id go with one of the big pond management companies that always get suggested here 

 

management strategy often involves heavy culling. A friend of a friend has a nice private lake where you have to kill anything below 2 pounds. They regularly catch 8 to 12 pounders in middle Tennessee.

[gim]

I was waiting for our regular Armchair Biologist @TnRiver46 to chime in here.  Right on cue.  

[TnRiver46]

Armchair? You mean 32 foot ladder and a squirrel trap instead of a remote control 

 

Already did some sampling today 

[FryDog62]

13 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

id go with one of the big pond management companies that always get suggested here 

Feel free to list a couple if poss… I’m starting flat-footed here 👍

[padlin]

You can google “pond management company Florida” and some come up. The first one I clicked on has an office in Fort Meyers, might be you could ask and see if your $ match their $. Solitude Lake Management is the one I clicked on.

[WRB]

Contact Bob Lusk the pond boss for a local biologist recommendation.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

I want to say southeast pond management is a big one, can’t exactly recall. Lemme see if I can find the articles, there are tons and tons and tons here on bass resource 

[detroit1]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Armchair? You mean 32 foot ladder and a squirrel trap instead of a remote control 

 

Already did some sampling today 

Jeez...don't let Ripzlipz see that!

[RipzLipz]

[Glenn]

Bob Lusk is your guy.  https://www.pondboss.com 

[TnRiver46]

I knew Glenn would know! 
 

@RipzLipz, it lives near a bird feeder across town now 😂 

[RipzLipz]

@TnRiver46 It’s all good buddy. I’m not one to freak out over nuisance animals being dealt with & my reaction above was 100% joking. My buds tend to behave themselves on my property so the traps are reserved for raccoons, opossums & the occasional pesky chipmunk. After seeing 10-12 raccoons trapped a couple of years ago I think the squirrels have learned to stay away from metal cages.

 

Apologies for distracting from the topic at hand.

 

I do have a question related to hiring a pond/lake management company. Does anyone ever feel they’re being 100% honest with what a body of water may or may not need? I mean they’re in the making money business first, right? I can see the benefits but I could also see where taking advantage of people could be very easy. Do they ever tell a client they don’t need anything?

[K1500]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I knew Glenn would know! 
 

@RipzLipz, it lives near a bird feeder across town now 😂 

I figured you were just doing research for the latest savage gear bait. Berserk topwater squirrel.