Why are bass put into golf ponds, quarries and water districts? 2025
Eric H reply :
I'm in California if that means anything.
I was once told it was the state law to put fish in bodies of water to control the mosquito population. I dont know how accurate that is.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I can't speak for California state law, but I highly doubt that's true, especially since bass would mostly eat the species of fish that would control mosquito populations and do very little, if any, mosquito population control themselves.
Bass mostly get into golf courses, strip pits, quarries and the like because;
Drew03cmc reply :
I believe it is, in some way, to maintain the water quality. If there's nastiness, bluegill will eat that, but then you need a predator to control them.
TnRiver46 reply :
If you dig a hole and it fills up with water, bass will end up in it, in the eastern US anyway. From what I understand, bass are not native to California so i wouldnt think the DNR is stocking them anymore
frogflogger reply :
They are bass - they are tough - they thrive in all kinds of environments - bass fishermen - they are tough - they thrive in all kinds of environments and want to see their favorite in every patch of water possible - they stock whether or not the gov't does.
fishballer06 reply :
As crazy as it sounds, I have heard from numerous sources that bass and many other species of fish can end up in new bodies of water by way of birds and other animals. Whether its true or not, who knows.
NYWayfarer reply :
The Golf ponds are stocked to keep the bugs in check. Some states require this by law.
If they are not stocked they are chemically treated to control bugs and algae. Out of the two I prefer the natural circle of life method.
OCdockskipper reply :
It is a little known fact that Bass are excellent landscapers, although they only do their work at night. When darkness falls on gold courses, the Bass migrate out of the ponds and do course maintenance, mowing the grass & relocating the pins. The don't work on the sand traps however, that work is left up to the carp.
Pickle_Power reply :
Around here, bass end up in every lake, pond, quarry, and lagoon from everyday anglers dumping them in to provide themselves more opportunities. It's illegal to stock public waters, but guys do it all the time.
jmz313 reply :
Aren't Sunfish stocked to control Mosquitoes then Bass stocked to control said sunfish? This is what i believed.
Also, Ducks/geese/ Birds are said to spread fish eggs that stick to their bodies/feet while they pond hop.
J Francho reply :
They stock gambusia for mosquito control: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquitofish
fishwizzard reply :
I am pretty sure that MD retention ponds are stocked deliberately, I have seen bass and sunfish pulled from very very young ponds.
the reel ess reply :
I don't know about every course. But a lot of them will allow members to fish before or after hours. I've only fished one course and I'm pretty sure the ponds there only had carp.
People will also throw some fish in there without permission just so they can come back and fish it. people are crazy like that.
WRB reply :
Not every body of water big enough to have a bass population in California has bass in it.
The State stocks mosquito fish to control mosquitos. Private owners stock a balance of forage fish that may include bass. New public reservoirs built in California usually consider recreational fishing as part of the renenue to operate the lake and that includes stocking fish popular with angling public; Bluegill, crappie, threadfin Shad for forage, channel catfish, bass, rainbow trout and crayfish for forage. Largemouth bass were stocked only during the initial flooding of a new lake, after that the bass are on thier own to sustain a population through State fishing regulations. Rainbow trout are the only fish raised in hatcheries in California for restocking.
With today's non native fish programs bass may not be allowed to be stocked in new reserviors by the State.
We have several city lakes closed to public fishing with bass populations planted by the DFG when those reseviors were constructed as a matter of state wide policy. A few mayors had enough clout to have trout stocked for a selected few cronies to catch.
Tom
Koz reply :
In the SC Lowcountry not only are there lagoons on golf courses, but they are also throughout the community for stormwater control. Water runoff enters the lagoons and groups of lagoon are interconnected to help balance the runoff.
Some of the wealthier communities do have active fisheries and will stock different species of fish. And as for the communities with stormwater ponds that don't stock fish? Most end up with bass and bream populations within 6-10 years. How does that happen? Egg transfer.
There have been a few minor studies where ducks have been fed vegetation that contained fish eggs attached and an examination of their feces showed that some eggs survived for a short period of time. The common claim is that eggs are transferred from one body of water to another when the eggs inadvertently stick to the feet or feathers of water fowl. Interestingly enough, there doesn't seem to be any in depth studies on this. I'm sure weather events can also play a role in eggs being dispersed (i.e. flora being windblown or caught in updrafts).
Another obvious one are waterfowl that catch fish in one lagoon, fly off, then end up dropping their catch in another lagoon.
Of course, some people could be transporting fish to these new lagoons, but because of the sheer number of lagoons that we have (thousands!) that contain fish I doubt that is the predominant factor.
Anyway, I think it's a fascinating subject.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
To answer your question OP here in New Jersey and Pennsylvania it is the opposite at golf ponds and lagoons, people throw carp and goldfish/other river dwellers in, they destroy ecosystems and plant life, wishy anglers would stock more bass instead of the state doing it over here/repopulating.
we do have some golf courses that are absolutely loaded with bass. great fishing if you can sneak in.
CountryboyinDC reply :
Why are bass put into golf ponds
Sam reply :
On 10/16/2019 at 4:23 PM, Drew03cmc said:I believe it is, in some way, to maintain the water quality. If there's nastiness, bluegill will eat that, but then you need a predator to control them.
Correct.
From an insurance underwriting viewpoint, looking for cigerette buts when there is a "no smoking" policy in force; seeing how clean and up to date the bathrooms are; notice any water spots or signs of water leaks on building ceilings, and if the golf course ponds are clear of any algae caused by over fertilizing the greens and grounds are four basics that safety and loss control guys and gals are trained to look for at golf courses and country clubs.
So golf courses that want to keep their ponds clean and fresh to avoid customer complaints will have different species of fish in their major ponds. Not all ponds, but the major ones.
Pond management companies are hired to keep the ponds in good condition and now many golf courses send their head groundsman to seminars on how to keep their ponds clean and add to the beauty of the course. Border Collies are purchased to chase the geese away, too, as we all know geese are dirty animals.
And a highly trained Border Collie can cost upwards of $2,500 and higher.
TnRiver46 reply :
All waterways go somewhere and flow in an out of each other. Unless you live in Australia
Sam reply :
On 10/17/2019 at 7:36 PM, TnRiver46 said:All waterways go somewhere and flow in an out of each other. Unless you live in Australia
You make an interesting point.,
What happens in Australia and why?
FryDog62 reply :
If bass keep the mosquito population down, then we need a trillion more of those fish in Minnesota where the skeeter is our state bird...
TnRiver46 reply :
On 10/17/2019 at 8:10 PM, Sam said:You make an interesting point.,
What happens in Australia and why?
Ha! Not sure but ive heard the water flows inward into these billabongs that terminate. In my neck of the woods theres a whole lot of water underground. Lots and lots
skekoam reply :
My son and I are avid golfers. Is it bad that during every round, we are scoping out every pond to see bass? LOL
greentrout reply :
because they grow to double digit weights ... many who golf also love to bass fish ... on exclusive country clubs you can bet some member bassers are walking the ponds and fishing for a trophy ...
good fishing ...
Hewhospeaksmuchbull reply :
Uhm, they put them there for me to catch.
schplurg reply :
On 10/17/2019 at 4:36 AM, WRB said:Not every body of water big enough to have a bass population in California has bass in it.
The State stocks mosquito fish to control mosquitos. Private owners stock a balance of forage fish that may include bass. New public reservoirs built in California usually consider recreational fishing as part of the renenue to operate the lake and that includes stocking fish popular with angling public; Bluegill, crappie, threadfin Shad for forage, channel catfish, bass, rainbow trout and crayfish for forage. Largemouth bass were stocked only during the initial flooding of a new lake, after that the bass are on thier own to sustain a population through State fishing regulations. Rainbow trout are the only fish raised in hatcheries in California for restocking.
With today's non native fish programs bass may not be allowed to be stocked in new reserviors by the State.
We have several city lakes closed to public fishing with bass populations planted by the DFG when those reseviors were constructed as a matter of state wide policy. A few mayors had enough clout to have trout stocked for a selected few cronies to catch.
Tom
New public reservoirs in California - never heard of em 
Well "New" Malones was new 40 years ago.
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