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No wrong answers just wondering how other people look at it.
I fish a 2 acre private pond for its 9-11 inch gills. I release all gills that I catch during spawn. I'm afraid that on a small body of water they can be over-harvested. After spawn (mid-june) it's "game on". What are your thoughts?
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Bluegill are prolific breeders if you are the only one keeping them. I don't believe you have any worries of over fishing them within reason
If it has larger fish that consume the gills you will be ok ! If not it stands a great chance that it will get overpopulated!
I don’t think you can hurt it keeping some at any point.
The bass and crappie seem to thin out the gill herd some.Quote:
Originally Posted by Slabprowler
I would definitely keep some, males and females as well. If you are catching huge numbers during the spawn then sounds like a few missing for dinner and the freezer shouldn’t hurt. Panfish are very prolific.
I go along with what Jack said. As also mentioned if there are no predators in this pond you need to help thin the Gills out or they may get stunted with over population.Quote:
Originally Posted by DockShootinJack
If it's a private lake, you need to harvest some or they will over populate. IF you can get all the folks that fish gills there to agree to always throw back the big ones and only harvest the midsized specimens then you will be on the road to having a trophy gill pond.
I have a 7 acre lake . I never put a bream back unless it is 12 inches or better and never take a bass out . There are 4 of us that do this . Helps the size for sure . 10-12 yrs . ago I took 2500 a year for several years . Bass are small but keep bream in check . Have caught a couple of 7 lb. bass in the last 5 years .
to manage a pond properly is to fish it frequently and see what size and species are in an over abundant status and or stunted situation and harvest accordingly, just saying .:cheers2