Overpopulated. What To Do?? 2024
akunk23 reply :
I'm fishing a farm pond that is overpopulated I belevieve. Just about every fish I catch is the same exact size and very small. I've caught a couple 3 pounders here and there but is very rare. I went out todsy for 2 hours and caught 57 bass between me and a buddy. What would you do? Just keep catching the fish and taking them out and eventually it'll get better?? I'm not sure how to approach it
Catch and Grease reply :
Have a good ole fashion fish fry! Or maybe a few fish frys lol
Sam reply :
Remove the smaller ones.
Crestliner2008 reply :
Like C & G above....eat fish! And lots of it.
everythingthatswims reply :
Get the little guys out and put golden shiners in!
RoLo reply :
Target another waterbody.
Trying to prune out the runts, is like bailing out the ocean.
Roger
Dwight Hottle reply :
What RoLo said. But if you insist on trying to solve the problem take every bass out under 15".
dignan2121 reply :
It could be freshly stocked.
tatertester reply :
Net the pond, throw back all decent sized bass and what else you want in there, use the smaller bass for fish fertilizer...Stock bait fish.
Bigbass37 reply :
Net the pond, take out the small ones, throw them into creeks/rivers or lakes near by.
Kevin22 reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 6:24 AM, akunk23 said:I'm fishing a farm pond that is overpopulated I belevieve. Just about every fish I catch is the same exact size and very small. I've caught a couple 3 pounders here and there but is very rare. I went out todsy for 2 hours and caught 57 bass between me and a buddy. What would you do? Just keep catching the fish and taking them out and eventually it'll get better?? I'm not sure how to approach it
I would call your DNR/DEC and ask the hired fisheries biologist what his advice would be. It could be a forage problem, over population, poor water quality, or a dozen other reasons. Taking a ton of fish out might not help the problem. They are there to help the public, so give them a call and ask for help.
Kevin22 reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 9:50 AM, Bigbass37 said:Net the pond, take out the small ones, throw them into creeks/rivers or lakes near by.
Please do not do that.. not only is it illegal in almost every state (probably IS every state), but it will introduce any diseases or non native aquatic life that might be in that pond to the neighboring ecosystem. That could be the cause of the issue, so why ruin the whole area???
Missourifishin reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 10:00 AM, Kevin22 said:Please do not do that.. not only is it illegal in almost every state (probably IS every state), but it will introduce any diseases or non native aquatic life that might be in that pond to the neighboring ecosystem. That could be the cause of the issue, so why ruin the whole area???
Exactly. Not a good idea.
I agree with the guys who said have a fish fry. A huge fish fry.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I have a couple ponds and small lakes I fish often that had the same problem. Started removing every non-keeper sized bass several years ago. Now those bodies of water have much better quality fish and the fish are healthier and fight much harder. As an added bonus the crappie and bluegill got much larger and more plentiful as well.
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 6:24 AM, akunk23 said:I'm fishing a farm pond that is overpopulated I belevieve. Just about every fish I catch is the same exact size and very small. I've caught a couple 3 pounders here and there but is very rare. I went out todsy for 2 hours and caught 57 bass between me and a buddy. What would you do? Just keep catching the fish and taking them out and eventually it'll get better?? I'm not sure how to approach it
For a couple years or so keep few smaller fish to eat every time you fish that pond.
On 6/25/2014 at 7:55 AM, everythingthatswims said:Get the little guys out and put golden shiners in!
I am not familiar with your states regulations but stocking fish is illegal in many states even if it is only baitfish. I would contact our local biologist or game warden and ask him what you should do.
On 6/25/2014 at 9:50 AM, Bigbass37 said:Net the pond, take out the small ones, throw them into creeks/rivers or lakes near by.
This is a terrible idea !!!! The result of this could be the introduction of diseases as well and/or introduction of fish into waters that may not otherwise have them. It could change the ecosystem of the creek/river/lake FOREVER.
It terrifies me some of the ideas that come up on this forum sometimes. Stocking fish whether it is game fish or baitfish isn't something that should be taken lightly. There are unseen consequences for such introductions. Consequences that once started can never be reversed. Stocking fish into an ecosystem that otherwise doesn't have them changes that ecosystem for ever. Not only the ecosystem of the creek/river/pond/lake that you would get stocked but every river/creek/lake/pond in that watershed. Examples this happening are Asian carp and Snakeheads not to mention the unintended introduction of aquatic vegetation, milfoil and water chestnut are good examples. Like I mentioned before it is highly illegal in most states. I am not sure what the punishment is in your state but in Maine it is a 25,000 dollar fine, up to 3 years in jail and the loss of your fishing license for life. Most states may not be s harsh as Maine's but the penalty for illegally stocking fish is never just a slap on the wrist or a 100 dollar fine. Fish stocking should be left to your regional biologists.
CTGalloway21 reply :
what size is the pond? If you google fish management, it will tell you a good # of lb per acre to harvest a year.
everythingthatswims reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 8:29 PM, Mainebass1984 said:For a couple years or so keep few smaller fish to eat every time you fish that pond.
I am not familiar with your states regulations but stocking fish is illegal in many states even if it is only baitfish. I would contact our local biologist or game warden and ask him what you should do.
This is a terrible idea !!!! The result of this could be the introduction of diseases as well and/or introduction of fish into waters that may not otherwise have them. It could change the ecosystem of the creek/river/lake FOREVER.
It terrifies me some of the ideas that come up on this forum sometimes. Stocking fish whether it is game fish or baitfish isn't something that should be taken lightly. There are unseen consequences for such introductions. Consequences that once started can never be reversed. Stocking fish into an ecosystem that otherwise doesn't have them changes that ecosystem for ever. Not only the ecosystem of the creek/river/pond/lake that you would get stocked but every river/creek/lake/pond in that watershed. Examples this happening are Asian carp and Snakeheads not to mention the unintended introduction of aquatic vegetation, milfoil and water chestnut are good examples. Like I mentioned before it is highly illegal in most states. I am not sure what the punishment is in your state but in Maine it is a 25,000 dollar fine, up to 3 years in jail and the loss of your fishing license for life. Most states may not be s harsh as Maine's but the penalty for illegally stocking fish is never just a slap on the wrist or a 100 dollar fine. Fish stocking should be left to your regional biologists.
In Virginia, we can stock private ponds with whatever we want, with the exception of some invasive species like common carp, grass carp, asian carp, snakeheads, etc (there is a list on the DGIF website) of course I'm not going to start dumping shiners into public bodies of water (most already have strong populations of them anyways) but in farm ponds and private bodies of water, I don't see the issue?
Mainebass1984 reply :
On 6/26/2014 at 1:22 AM, everythingthatswims said:In Virginia, we can stock private ponds with whatever we want, with the exception of some invasive species like common carp, grass carp, asian carp, snakeheads, etc (there is a list on the DGIF website) of course I'm not going to start dumping shiners into public bodies of water (most already have strong populations of them anyways) but in farm ponds and private bodies of water, I don't see the issue?
Stocking private ponds is completely different then a public body of water. As long as you get the fish from an approved source there isn't an issue. Taking game fish/bait fish from bodies of water and then transporting them to a private pond is completely different. Not only would you be transporting that fish but any virus/disease/pathogen that is in the water as well as any weed particles that could be in the water as well. I am not sure about the laws where you live but here it is illegal to transport live game fish.
Glenn reply :
Take out as much as you think you should, then double it. No joke.
Here's more detailed information:
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/small-bass-overcrowding
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/overpopulated-bass.html
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/big_bass_ponds.html
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/slot.html
http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/lake-limits-fish.html
Comfortably Numb reply :
Most important queastion I see is who owns this pond?
RoLo reply :
On 6/26/2014 at 3:55 AM, Comfortably Numb said:Most important queastion I see is who owns this pond?
"You're on private property, son" 
FrogFreak reply :
On 6/25/2014 at 9:58 AM, Kevin22 said:I would call your DNR/DEC and ask the hired fisheries biologist what his advice would be. It could be a forage problem, over population, poor water quality, or a dozen other reasons. Taking a ton of fish out might not help the problem. They are there to help the public, so give them a call and ask for help.
Yes, in all seriousness, please call before you do anything that may get you in trouble. It's not clear if you own the pond, where the pond is located, what the regulations are in that area etc
Hyrule Bass reply :
On 6/26/2014 at 3:55 AM, Comfortably Numb said:Most important queastion I see is who owns this pond?
i agree with this. you cant just go doing things to other peoples ponds without permission from them(the landowners/pond owners). if its not your pond, no need to go calling the DNR, stocking minnows and all that. if you can keep fish from that pond, then thats what i would do. some land owners ask anyone they let fish it to catch and release. or is it a public pond? because then the scenario changes...
Alonerankin2 reply :
You must own that pond, or have written permission to remove those dinks, other than that sometimes it is the only way to help a pond become more balanced
Hyrule Bass reply :
i doubt he has to have written permission, verbal will probably be fine. although, i understand some states do require written permission from the land owner to do certain things...
Kevin22 reply :
IL requires it unless you are the owner, owner's spouse/children, or legal tenant of the land the pond is located. If you get caught with a cooler full of bass on the road or a freezer full at home and you try to explain that you are just fixing a pond then you'll find yourself in a courtroom explaining that to the judge.
Comfortably Numb reply :
Even putting christmas trees and structure is considered littering and not legal.
As far as adding minnows to a pond, that usually wont work either as they will probably all get eaten right away. It takes 10# food to grow one bass 1#. You need replenishing food like blegill.
Pond management is a fine balance and quite an interesting art
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