I have a private pond that’s about 6 acres large and 30+ feet deep. For this reason I’ve always been surprised I haven’t been able to catch very many bass above 1lb.
Today, however, I noticed that there are tons of bluegill babies just swimming around. Our pond used to be full of minnows, very tiny silver ones. Now I haven’t been able to find them the last few summers. Yet I see all these sunfish/bluegill. I’m wondering if I need to start chopping these guys up and getting them out of here.
Does anyone have any insight?
--
by HonestBuy7
Thank you for that, that’s actually very insightful. I’m curious what method you ended up using? I was thinking it might be fun to just go around with a 3 foot net and catch a bunch of them. At least then I can reuse them as cut bait or something.
I also contacted the wildlife department to see if they’d steer me right.
--
by HonestBuy7
I read a different study where they added large channel cats and within like 3 years problem fish were gone and the channels didnt really reproduce or anything. I've been just pulling out any that I catch when me and the kid get bored. They bite any time of day so filling a five gallon bucket is an easy affair. Most arent worth eating so they go in the garden or in the woods for the critters. Cant use them for bait here in WI.
--
by Oakwoodforge
It’s really surprising to me that we don’t have all these catfish in here. It’s so big and we’ve got all these rocky crevices and downed trees. I’ve gone fishing for them though and only got turtles.
Thanks for all of the suggestions though I’ll keep doin research. Have you noticed much difference since you started doing that?
--
by HonestBuy7
Not much my pond hasnt been stocked since the 70s. Theres a few nice gills in thereby almost everything is damn bullheads. Predators are gonna be introduced once I start seeing an improvement in the bluegill numbers.
--
by Oakwoodforge
FS Digest wrote:
I have a private pond that’s about 6 acres large and 30+ feet deep. For this reason I’ve always been surprised I haven’t been able to catch very many bass above 1lb.
Today, however, I noticed that there are tons of bluegill babies just swimming around. Our pond used to be full of minnows, very tiny silver ones. Now I haven’t been able to find them the last few summers. Yet I see all these sunfish/bluegill. I’m wondering if I need to start chopping these guys up and getting them out of here.
Does anyone have any insight?
--
by HonestBuy7
I have a private pond that’s about 6 acres large a... (
show quote)
A magazine titled “Pond Boss” can help answer your questions. It is worth the subscription price. Lotta good info there.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.