Where did all the panfish go?

[fishesfromtupperware]

Hello all,

Great forum y'all have here. I moved down to Jacksonville a little over a year ago and moved into a condo on a lovely little pond (about 5 acres) as my backyard (when you live in the swamp, everybody has water front property :D )

When we first got here in Oct '07, I could catch HUGE blue gills and bream at will. I had all the neighborhood kids thinking I was the greatest fisherman in the world. They'd come by to play with my daughter, I'd put the pole in their hands, tell them where to cast it, and bang! fishon!

Then I started catching bass. Mostly < 1lbs, but one great mule one night.
Ever since then, I can always go find a little bass in a few casts but I can't buy a panfish! I think I might have kept a total of 3 fish, but everything else went back to swim.

What gives? Were there only 3 panfish in the pond? Did I scare them all off? Have I just lost my mojo? Help! I gotta restore my neighborhood king of the pond status (instead of just grumpy old man ;D )

Thanks,
Wali

[deathb4disco]

There's a technical name for a pond like this (but it escapes me.) I did find this article which seems to describe your situation and the solution:

American Sportfish - Rx for Stunted Largemouth Bass

[fishesfromtupperware]

There's a technical name for a pond like this (but it escapes me.) I did find this article which seems to describe your situation and the solution:
American Sportfish - Rx for Stunted Largemouth Bass

Thanks for the link, that's a good article! I've read some similar articles and thought that might be the problem. In fact, I started taking some of the big headed little Bass and considered starting a neighborhood kids Bass tournament and fish fry. But then my neighbors said it was probably not a good idea to eat them because of the fertilizer and street runoff (They did taste a bit fishy but I have not sprouted any new parts <yet>) and I could not bring myself to toss a fish on the bank.
Also the pond is fairly old (1970's) and has had very little pressure for the past few years. Maybe those five (yeah, it grew :rolleyes: ) that I kept threw off the ponds balance and I can use this as an example of a delicate ecosystem.* It's hard to imagine that I decimated the panfish population that quickly though.
Guess I'll have to see if the condo association would mind if I added a couple thousand "intermediate bluegills". (although I was hoping for a simpler solution like "add a crappie condo" or something) oh well,
Thanks!
Wali




*Wali is a junior high math/science teacher when he's is not fishing.

[deathb4disco]

It's tough to manage a small pond like this. It needs the "right" amount of pressure. It also needs a committment from others (besides you) to make it into a great pond. Hopefully, you have a good condo association that will help you out.

[jimmydee1]

Go to - Pondboss.com. If you've never visited the site it will blow you away. Some pretty darn good professionals there that can nail your proble down for you.

[deathb4disco]

Go to - Pondboss.com.

Very nice site. Thanks for the tip.

[fishesfromtupperware]

Jimmydee1, thanks for the pondboss.com link!

Wow! That is a great resource! Thanks!
Now its got me looking at Tilapia as a forage source. That may be an easier sell to the Homeowner's Assn. as they are supposed to be better at algae eating than the current triploid Carp. You guys ROCK!

[talldude33]

Sorry, there all in my frying pan

[talldude33]

Sorry all the fish are in my frying pan

[talldude33]

Sorry all the fish are in my frying pan

My fault It double posted