Overpopulation of Bass?

[ManInBlack]

My buddy and I fished a farm pond yesterday that we just received access to.  We fished for almost 4 hours and caught 39 largemouth.  The largest fish was probably 2.5 lbs and many of these fish were in the 1 to 1.5 lb range.  Was wondering if this pond was overpopulated with bass?  My buddy and I were talking about possibly harvesting some of these fish so that the pond could possibly produce bigger fish in the future?  What size of fish should we harvest from this pond?  Is the general rule of around 20 - 25 lbs of fish per acre about right?  Would be interested to know some of your thoughts on this.

Thanks!

[Catt]

We have a resident pond biologist named Bob Lusk I would suggest you PM him to get a proper answer.

[fishfordollars]

If you want to keep your access to that pond you better sit down and talk to the owner or manager about it. You may find your welcome revolked very quickly if you start to manage a gift you have been given without permission.

[Pond Hopper]

Find out if you can harvest this fish first. Follow all local rules, and harvest some fish.  I fish alot of ponds and my biggest worry is under harvest rather than over harvest.  The one thing that worries me about harvesting fish is that people keep the larger predator fish out of the ponds.  Otherwise I have no problem with legal persons keeping juvenille fish.

[ManInBlack]

Thanks for the suggestions. And yes, my friend and I have been given permission to keep any fish out of this pond. I would never harvest fish on property that wasn't mine without being given permission first.

[NewScreenNameAdvised]

From what I understand, if you choose to harvest, you want to harvest the smaller fish....smaller than 13". Leave the big girls in there.

[JShrock07]

I have a lake very similar to your pond. I have talked with the owner and he has allowed me to take about 300 LMB out of it. The largest I have taken was about 14" When I take these fish I relocate them into another lake. I have a public lake I take them to because people decide to keep every fish they catch so I add fish to help out other fishermen/women. Since I have started this the private lake has not been so productive but I have caught many larger fish.  The public lake is now a lot more fun to fish. So it will hopefully work out for the better for both lakes.

JMPO

[George Welcome]

My suggestion is twofold: First you are asking your question at the wrong location - Contact your local DNR to get a correct assessment to your particular locale and situation..

The best that we who do not fish that area is five suggestions that are a guess at best about your situation. Your local biologists will help you.

[Grey Wolf]

You will get a lot of guesses at best here. Contact your local DNR and see if they can put you on the right tract. That sounds like a great lake and you really don't want to mess it up .

[MbBass]

I am a regular on pond boss . And it sounds like the pond is in fact bass heavy . Kinda nee to do a fast survey of the forage that they eat and what size they are . Now another option is that you can start catching alot of 2 to 6 inch Blugill and start throwing them in . That way the bass will fattin up and you can still catch alot of bass . I have done this in a bass heavy pond and the rusults are great . But takein out a few bass wouldnt hurt .

Did any of the bass seem skinny and have large heads ? if you catch any that are like i have described then by all means take them out . Not good for the genes . Good luck and post some pictures of the bass if you can .

[Raul]

Catching a truckload of fish in a pond where fish seldomly see a lure doesn 't necessarily mean it 's overpopulated, it only means for shure that the fish are new to lures.