Too big of fish?

Jhenderson237 · 07-28-2009, 10:19 PM

I know this might sound weird to some, but i've been fishing a pond outside of omaha, that just has some real monsters (bass). i have been very impressed with the lake to say the least, but have been concerned with the size of the lake and fish. I would say the lake is no bigger than two or three acres, and is not more than 10 feet deep in spots. Majority i would say its 3 or 4 feet. I have fished this pond 3 times already, and have pulled 5, 6, and 7 pounders out of it, and am constantly catching 3 and 4 pounders......but not hardly any small ones. The fish in general look very healthy and have very good color. Is it possible that the fish will eventually run out of food? to say that they eat all the little fish and nothing is left but themselves? there is also a ton of frogs around, and thats what i've caught them on is plastic frogs. can anyone help me and my possible problem.

Fish On · 07-28-2009, 11:29 PM

Sounds like a good "problem" to have. I wouldn't be concerned.

Post some pics of the biggins.

Shorty · 07-29-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish On

Sounds like a good "problem" to have. I wouldn't be concerned.

I wouldn't be concerned unless the LMB start getting skinny all of a sudden.

My guess is that there are also a lot of small somewhat stunted bluegill present also in the pond feeding the food chain.

H2only · 07-29-2009, 03:11 PM

Its hard to really say, but if you give me the location of the place, I could go do a little research for you and get back to you on the results. I will need at least the rest of the year though to run my tests.

LincolnLunger · 07-29-2009, 06:41 PM

im sorry, but I can't believe you think its a problem when you have a pond with too big of bass, thats just too funny

don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything but really, I'd say theres a problem if the fish are too small but too big?

Cornfed Cornhead · 07-29-2009, 08:24 PM

I would keep a watchfull eye out, if there are only biguns and no young ones, then once the biguns die out the bluegill will be able to reproduce with no predators and eventually the owner will have to restart, I'd keep a watchful eye out

jabNE · 08-01-2009, 08:24 PM

Its common, I've taken some giants out of ponds no bigger around than an average home lot at most. If they are deep, if the nutrients and water quality are good, and there is good food base and not much pressure, you would be surprised what can come out of some little tiny "gems" of ponds in this end of the state. One of the biggest bass I ever saw came from a tiny little pond up located down in Richardson county, up in the nemaha river basin in an old limestone area cattle pasture. The pond seriously wasn't more than maybe 30' across at its widest point, with a little feeder stream and some old timber in it. Lots of stunted bluegill, and small bass. I thought that was all it had in it, until my grandfather took me there one night and after dark that place was completely different. I heard occasionally huge splashes in the dark as we snuck up to it, sounded like buckets of water being scooped up. We stayed a ways back from the pond and he had a big muske-class jitterbug on his rod with #40 braid line. I thought he was nuts. That thing jurgled maybe 10' across the surface of that lake after he cast it out, and then wham, he had one on that easily went #9 or so pounds. It was a full 26" end to end. I was impressed. It was Huge.
Its not a problem, just maybe a normal cycle for older ponds. Some of those should have some giants in them. Try it late a night some time in summer to find out. Lots of fun. Its one of my favorite summer fishing pasttimes ever since he showed me that, and I've been doing it 25 years since that fateful trip.

Jim

Omaha · 08-02-2009, 10:09 PM

Henderson, what I suggest is, the next time you go out there, intentionally target the forage species, ie, bluegill. See how many and what size you haul in. That might give you a better idea of what the bass are eating. My guess is what Shorty mentioned, that you have stunted and smallish bluegill, providing plenty of forage for the bass present in the pond. In other words, the bluegill fishing will be bad, the bass fishing will be good. Depends on what you're going for as far as whether you consider this a "problem" or not. If you want bluegill, sure, it's a problem. If you want big bass, well, you're in an enviable position.

07-28-2009, 10:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jhenderson237 Jhenderson237 has no status. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 8 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Too big of fish? I know this might sound weird to some, but i've been fishing a pond outside of omaha, that just has some real monsters (bass). i have been very impressed with the lake to say the least, but have been concerned with the size of the lake and fish. I would say the lake is no bigger than two or three acres, and is not more than 10 feet deep in spots. Majority i would say its 3 or 4 feet. I have fished this pond 3 times already, and have pulled 5, 6, and 7 pounders out of it, and am constantly catching 3 and 4 pounders......but not hardly any small ones. The fish in general look very healthy and have very good color. Is it possible that the fish will eventually run out of food? to say that they eat all the little fish and nothing is left but themselves? there is also a ton of frogs around, and thats what i've caught them on is plastic frogs. can anyone help me and my possible problem.

07-28-2009, 11:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fish On Fish On is lookin' for bambi...Mmmm bambi 2008 Catch and Continue Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: next to the trolling rod Posts: 1,701 Thanks: 31 Thanked 197 Times in 135 Posts	Sounds like a good "problem" to have. I wouldn't be concerned. Post some pics of the biggins. __________________ When you have the option, please buy American made. If it does not save your job, it might save mine.

07-29-2009, 03:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
H2only H2only has no status. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 1,581 Thanks: 82 Thanked 266 Times in 181 Posts	Its hard to really say, but if you give me the location of the place, I could go do a little research for you and get back to you on the results. I will need at least the rest of the year though to run my tests. __________________ "A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have." - Thomas Jefferson

07-29-2009, 06:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
LincolnLunger LincolnLunger is wanting to catch something BIG! Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: southeastern nebraska Posts: 1,838 Thanks: 709 Thanked 389 Times in 268 Posts	im sorry, but I can't believe you think its a problem when you have a pond with too big of bass, thats just too funny don't mean to sound like a jerk or anything but really, I'd say theres a problem if the fish are too small but too big? __________________ Shut Up And Fish! ><((((((((()*< ~--------------

07-29-2009, 08:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cornfed Cornhead Cornfed Cornhead has no status. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Omaha Posts: 99 Thanks: 31 Thanked 10 Times in 8 Posts	I would keep a watchfull eye out, if there are only biguns and no young ones, then once the biguns die out the bluegill will be able to reproduce with no predators and eventually the owner will have to restart, I'd keep a watchful eye out __________________ Fish die belly upward, and rise to the surface. Its their way of falling.

08-01-2009, 08:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
jabNE jabNE is climbing that corporate ladder at the hairclub for men Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hickman, NE Posts: 268 Thanks: 0 Thanked 145 Times in 45 Posts	Its common, I've taken some giants out of ponds no bigger around than an average home lot at most. If they are deep, if the nutrients and water quality are good, and there is good food base and not much pressure, you would be surprised what can come out of some little tiny "gems" of ponds in this end of the state. One of the biggest bass I ever saw came from a tiny little pond up located down in Richardson county, up in the nemaha river basin in an old limestone area cattle pasture. The pond seriously wasn't more than maybe 30' across at its widest point, with a little feeder stream and some old timber in it. Lots of stunted bluegill, and small bass. I thought that was all it had in it, until my grandfather took me there one night and after dark that place was completely different. I heard occasionally huge splashes in the dark as we snuck up to it, sounded like buckets of water being scooped up. We stayed a ways back from the pond and he had a big muske-class jitterbug on his rod with #40 braid line. I thought he was nuts. That thing jurgled maybe 10' across the surface of that lake after he cast it out, and then wham, he had one on that easily went #9 or so pounds. It was a full 26" end to end. I was impressed. It was Huge. Its not a problem, just maybe a normal cycle for older ponds. Some of those should have some giants in them. Try it late a night some time in summer to find out. Lots of fun. Its one of my favorite summer fishing pasttimes ever since he showed me that, and I've been doing it 25 years since that fateful trip. Jim

08-02-2009, 10:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
Omaha Omaha is building a pond. Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 311 Thanks: 145 Thanked 57 Times in 43 Posts	Henderson, what I suggest is, the next time you go out there, intentionally target the forage species, ie, bluegill. See how many and what size you haul in. That might give you a better idea of what the bass are eating. My guess is what Shorty mentioned, that you have stunted and smallish bluegill, providing plenty of forage for the bass present in the pond. In other words, the bluegill fishing will be bad, the bass fishing will be good. Depends on what you're going for as far as whether you consider this a "problem" or not. If you want bluegill, sure, it's a problem. If you want big bass, well, you're in an enviable position.

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