I have fished farm ponds that are either overrun with crappie or bluegill.
They both seem to be stunted to some extent when either of the two species predominate the pond population of fishes.
My question is, if you were stocking a 2 to 3 acre pond with either bluegills or crappies and largemouth bass, which
sunfish would you stock (that is if the crappie is indeed a sunfish)?
My inclination and desire is to go with only bluegill and largemouth bass.
Just looking for thoughts and suggestions. I would prefer to catch a 1 pound bluegill any day v/s a crappie!
I have fished several ponds and caught crappie one after the other that looked like clones of the first one I caught…little fellers!
Likewise, I have fished ponds where almost all the bluegills were little guys. The occasional larger (not bragging size) one.
Both Bluegills and Crappies are in the sunfish family, as are Largemouth Bass.
I guess its really a matter of personal preference. Rick Z here is the primary “fish manager” of a good number of farm ponds in his area. In case I’m incorrect in any of the following (or preceding) statements, I hope Rick will chime in to correct me.
I believe Rick has ponds that have large bluegills AND large crappies, along with the bass. The key seems to be actively regulated harvest…as the harvesting helps ensure there is plenty of natural food available for the remaining fish, which then display excellent growth rates and large average/maximum size.
I’ve read a lot of accounts that all say, “never stock Crappie in a pond. They will take over”. I’ve had an ODWC biologist say the same thing.
You need some good predators to take out Crappie when they’re over-populated. My “home lake” is full of stunted Crappie. 4 - 5 y.o. fish that are about 6" long. By the thousands. LMB’s will eat the fry, as will Hybrid Striped Bass (stocked in the lake, but to many go over the spillway), Flathead Catfish, and Saugeyes. We’re trying to get ODWC to stock some Saugeyes in that lake, but they are waiting on a long-term project to be completed. Flatheads, unfortunately, while voracious, are actively targeted by fishermen, and they rarely do catch-and-release on those monsters.
The best predators for over-stocked, stunted, Crappie are people! Just do the cut-and-gut routine, then cook the bodies whole. I just wish my wife would eat them. She will only eat fish fillets, and I’m not filleting fish that small. I’ve heard the small fish also make great fertilizer for a garden.
I’ve heard similar comments, no crappies in anything but huge ponds or lakes. However, I too am looking forward to Rick chiming in on the keys to good pond management.
I’m of the school “never stock crappie in a small pond, they will take over”.
Just from the fishing experiences I have had in this regard.
It is no fun catching crappie after crappie that run about 8 to 10 inches.
It would also seem that the largemouth are stunted to some small length when this is the case?
It is my understanding that Crappie also are somewhat limited in the prey that they can eat because their mouth isn’t wide enough to easily swallow a 3-4 inch sunfish. Therefore, they need to be limited to large bodies of water where shiners thrive and act as a food supply for the crappie. Otherwise, the crappie end up targeting small bass that are long and thin enough to fit into their mouths. I live on a beautiful 50 acre lake where well intentioned people have release crappie but there numbers are not too bad. That said this evening I was fishing and my neighbor down the lake informed me that they just stocked the lake with black crappie:( and Georgia Giant hybrid bream. The person in charge of “managing” the lake is not a fisherman and has no fisheries biology background so I’m guessing he just went on someone’s opinion; perhaps the guy selling him the fish. I’m very unhappy about the crappie and I have mixed feelings about the hybrid bream. This lake is already a terrific bream fishery where I can catch 11-13 inch bream on any given spring or summer evening. Looks like I’ll have to start targeting crappie and thin them out as fast as I can. Jim Smith
James, There is a private lake, probably 25 acres or so, back in north MS the owner allowed most of us who asked to fish the lake and several friend left boats on the bank for convenience. The crappie in the lake were stunted, several friends began a campaign removing every crappie they caught. Over a couple of years they had improved the “herd” to where the primary catch was good sized fish. The lake still held good bream and monster bass. That was probably where I caught my first fish on a flyrod.
If I were stocking a lake, first I would talk to my county agent and find out what worked best for the area. I would want to know about coppernose bluegill and F-1 bass. This is a Coppernose Bluegill, the guy holding it sell fish to stock ponds. If you can make the total photo 15" wide it will be about life size.
I would ask the Dept of Natural Resources, or whatever they are called in your state. I know here in Iowa if you are going to stock a pond they are very helpful in providing what species and quantities you should stock.
I fish many smal ponds that are stocked with crappie, gill, and bass. I do not put a crappie back in the water when I am fishing the ponds.
I have many land owners that have set rules for the pond where bass over 14 inches do not come out of the pond. This helps thin the panfish herd.
I will return gills over 10 inches back into the pond. Want those genetics.
Three of my favorite ponds get from 400 to 500 panfish a year taken out of them.
Fish size is still increasing and the numbers of fish have not decreased.
There are 4 to 6 pound bass in the ponds also.
It will take about four years of removing small crappie before the size increases alot. This also depends on bass being left in.
Hope this does more than muddy the water.
Rick
Let me know when.
Go to your country conservation office ( or equivelqant).
They have maps that you can look at to see where ponds are.
Can check plot maps to see who owns the land.
I would never put crappie in a pond that small. Stick with bass, pumpkinseeds, bluegills, and make sure you put plenty of channel catfish in there. It wouldn’t hurt to throw in a good number of fathead minnows as some extra forge.
Time to chime in,I have permission to fish a pond that only two more can fish and I would class them as don’t worry they won’t catch much.The owner now is the son of the man I got permission from 20+ years ago.It is 7 or so acres and has bass crappie carp to control grass and shell crackers and a few species of bream.When his father owned it I was the only one to fish it.I could go and catch 30-40 bass in 2-3 hours the largest caught 9lbs 4 ounces.Since his death the son has been less than alert on keeping the pond from slip ins and the bass have been taken out and now the panfish have started getting smaller .I have been throwing them behind the spillway to swim downstream but it only helps slightly.If I were to stock crappie in a pond,one the pond would have a minimum depth of 20 foot deep and be at least five acres big with bass in there to help control the panfish.I would also cull and keep smaller fish.
I have fished farm ponds 95% of my fishing time since grade school & I am now 66. Bass & 'gills in ponds. Crappie only in larger waters. A key is selective harvest, which I practice & I catch a LOT of 9"-10" 'gills yearly with an occasional 11 incher thrown in. I would recommend getting on http://www.pondboss.com/ to learn about pond management.
