New Membwe

[rwboatto]

Hi my name is Richard, I am a new member to your site here. I am a relatively new fisherman, and would like to get some insights from those that are experts. Maybe you could help with a few questions. I have a relative that has about a 1-2 acre pond on their property that is stocked with largemouth black Florida Bass and Perch.
1)Do bass in these smaller ponds behave differently than bass in a larger impoundment?
2)During the cooling off months in October what are strategies for catching a large bass(a couple of 9 and 10 lbers have been caught in there), how deep should I set the bait?
3)Is it beneficial to take out some fish if all that we are catching are the 1/2 lb to 3 1/2 lb variety, help control population?

I hope to learn from you guys, hope I didn't pose to many questions at once.

[Scott]

Rich,

Welcome to the best bass fishing site ever. You cant ask these guys too many questions at once, they are all very good people.

Scott

[carl]

Scott has it right, this is the best board on the net. Where did you say this pond is at? A two acre pond is awfully small for ten pounders, but I'd release those big babies to save their genes. In some ponds the owners encourage taking the small fish to keep the pond in balance. Of course this is only opinion. I'd contact your state fisheries agency and ask them. In most states there're pretty helpful. I'm sure the prostaff will have more info. for you. Good luck, Carl.

[johnnie crain outdoors]

I wouldn't keep any bass over six pounds unless you truly desire a trophy to mount, then it's okay. The three to eight pounders produce the most eggs and likely keep the strain of big bass going. It's okay to keep a few in the 1/2 to two pound range if you like to eat bass. By perch, I'm assuming you mean sunfish. Yes, the bass are needed to keep their populations in check.
Bass in poonds reat difereently than nbass in lakes dur to their restricted movement. Bass in ponds when faced with cold front conditions most likely will seek heavy cover, such as weeds, or just go dormant for a while. They don't have the luxury of dropping off into deep water. Bass in ponds have also become accustomed to feeding on panfish, frogs and insects, where as bass in lakes mostly feed on crawfish, shad, sunfish and other minnows. Bass in ponds are much more likely to feed in shallow water throughout the day and night. That's their job, keep the small fish population down. Use slightly smaller baits when fishing ponds than lakes. Be as quiet walking as possible. Same baits work, just in smaller portions. Good luck, my friend, Johnnie Crain

[johnnie crain outdoors]

By the way, Rich, WELCOME to the best darn web site Period. Johnnie

[mofish]

Rich Welcome to the site.

Jonnie has it down. He always does. Keep the smaller ones and have a nice fish fry, let the bigger one grow. You can find some info on the web for pond managment but most of it you have to pay for. A stock pond is one the best places in the world to learn about bass fishing don't forget to take and youngster fishing with you so they can learn the ins and outs of this great sport.

I have found the top water fishing is great on stock ponds. As the weather cools just start working your way deeper. If you can locate a drop off or the creek channel that feeds the pond you have one of the best places on that pond to fish. If that channel has some stumps or grass on it you found the gold mine. If there is no cover on the pond at all make you some. Drag some old dead tree out there on the drops or channels and sink them for a milk run that you can make. going from trunk to trunk fishing with cranks, worms, and jigs.

Good luck and hope that helps.

Conley