Help with typical sandhills farm pond?

Brian · 03-12-2008, 10:02 PM

We have a pond on our place that's about an acre and a half. Has a decent population of LMB, some might go to 4#.

It also has a huge population of "dink" bluegills, "dink" perch, and a few crappies here and there.... Lots of vegetation

We C&R all the bass...maybe one or two come home every year.

Any ideas on improving the overall size of the bluegills?

Maybe introduce a single, male northern?

- B

laughingwatr · 03-13-2008, 05:43 AM

I bought some fish from a guy last year and he told me that a pond will support either 10 or 15 lbs. of pike per acre. Any more than that and you may go backwards.

**Chad** · 03-13-2008, 08:36 AM

Brian,

Got any pictures of the pond?

If it were me, I wouldn't introduce the single male northern. If the habitat was suited for it, I might think about establishing a northern population though. The single might help, but 1 fish doesn't make a great management plan.

You said there was Lots of vegetation. What kind, how much exactly and where (is it all over)? How deep is the pond? I'm wondering if this is making predation difficult, and if vegetation control would be the more effective management tool.

Just some thoughts. Would like to get a visual for the pond...

Good luck!

Shorty · 03-13-2008, 08:59 AM

Control the vegetation! Here is a site to identify what you have. On a small pond manual removal of the vegation will reduce the nutrient load in the pond. Treating it with chemicals could be expensive and as the vegetion dies and breaks down the nutrient load will shift, this will likely bring about a very strong algae bloom in its place.

AQUAPLANT - A Pond Manager Diagnostics Tool

Do an evaluation to see if your stunted pan fish are eating most of your bass fry, if bass recruitment is low then consider stocking some additional 6-8" LMB.

**Chad** · 03-18-2008, 04:32 PM

Comments from Jeff Blaser, Private Waters Specialist, NGPC...

Quote:

Hi Chad,
Can Brian provide more information? I need to know more about the body condition of the bass and the extent and duration of the aquatic vegetation. The aquatic vegetation may be so excessive the bass cannot effectively prey on the bluegill, perch, and crappie. I also need to know where the pond is located and watershed usage, how long the pond has been in existence, and what various water depths are present.

03-12-2008, 10:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brian Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 178 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Help with typical sandhills farm pond? We have a pond on our place that's about an acre and a half. Has a decent population of LMB, some might go to 4#. It also has a huge population of "dink" bluegills, "dink" perch, and a few crappies here and there.... Lots of vegetation We C&R all the bass...maybe one or two come home every year. Any ideas on improving the overall size of the bluegills? Maybe introduce a single, male northern? - B __________________

03-13-2008, 08:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chad Director Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gone Fishin' Posts: 6,458 Thanks: 58 Thanked 66 Times in 41 Posts	Brian, Got any pictures of the pond? If it were me, I wouldn't introduce the single male northern. If the habitat was suited for it, I might think about establishing a northern population though. The single might help, but 1 fish doesn't make a great management plan. You said there was Lots of vegetation. What kind, how much exactly and where (is it all over)? How deep is the pond? I'm wondering if this is making predation difficult, and if vegetation control would be the more effective management tool. Just some thoughts. Would like to get a visual for the pond... Good luck! __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

03-13-2008, 08:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
Shorty Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: on the water near Lincoln Posts: 1,417 Thanks: 3 Thanked 12 Times in 6 Posts	Control the vegetation! Here is a site to identify what you have. On a small pond manual removal of the vegation will reduce the nutrient load in the pond. Treating it with chemicals could be expensive and as the vegetion dies and breaks down the nutrient load will shift, this will likely bring about a very strong algae bloom in its place. AQUAPLANT - A Pond Manager Diagnostics Tool Do an evaluation to see if your stunted pan fish are eating most of your bass fry, if bass recruitment is low then consider stocking some additional 6-8" LMB. __________________ The best thing you can stock your tackle box with is confidence.

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03-13-2008, 05:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
laughingwatr Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Niobrara River Posts: 121 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	I bought some fish from a guy last year and he told me that a pond will support either 10 or 15 lbs. of pike per acre. Any more than that and you may go backwards.