Printable View
There is a man made pond behind my neighborhood. The pond is about 2 years old. I'm not sure if it was ever stocked but some of the kids have caught and released small bream and google eye into the pond. There are tons of minnows in the pond and alot of grass along the banks. How long does it take to for a small pond produce big bream?:confused:
I really don't know how long it takes to start producing. But, if you get me permission to fish this pond I will let you know when I start catching some big ones. (LOL)
2-3 years should be fine, depending on the size and cover available. But if you want it to be real good, it is always good to catch and release for awhile. Then again if there are too many fish in it they might not get as big. just try it out and see what you get.
Unless somebody puts some bass in the pond, it'll never produce any big bluegills. Without any predators to thin them out, you'll just ended up with a BUNCH of stunted bluegills.
A few months ago, I went fishing at Lake Martin and all I caught was one bass. I didn't have time to clean it, so when I got home I released it in the pond. So I know of at least ONE bass in that pond.Quote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
Just the other day my wife was near the pond and said she saw a fish jumping. Maybe it was the our pet bass. :D
I think I'll start keeping some of the smaller bass I sometimes catch and release a few more into the pond.
Your more than welcome to come fish it. I think it is open to the public. But I'm sure there is probably a better place closer to you to catch some bream. I would hate for you to drive all the way to Lafayette just to catch a few dinks. Thats all we've ever caught in this pond.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deacon
Drop a flathead or two in that pond to keep the gills under control and it wont take but a couple of tears to start getting a few nice panfish out of there.
In my experience, it takes about four years to really get the sizes and numbers. But you have to have bass in there, too. And you have to feed the bluegill and keep the pond fertilized. Years 5-8 are dynamite, and that's when you start getting the pounders and up in good numbers. Nothing like sitting on a bed and keeping 25 bulls that weigh almost 25 pounds.
Good luck with it.
Don
If you have the population balanced and you feed or fertilize the pond, you can see some good sized bream in 3 years. I accidentally killed the fish in one of my ponds in 2003. I transfered fish from my other ponds to rebuild the one I killed fish in. I figured this year I might be able to catch a decent size fish. Turns out, I was a year ahead of schedule. Last year I saw piles of bream around the pier and I started feeding. Soon, bigger bluegills started feeding and as a result the other night I caught one bluegill 9" long. It takes a lot of work to properly manage a pond but you will be rewarded in the longrun. It just depends on your goals.
Well, I didn't want to sound too optimistic :) , but you are right with good growing conditions, feed, and fertilizer. Did you stock the Florida strain?
Don
As other posters commented, it depends upon other fish in the pond, fertility, and more. It is harder to get an optimal fishery without a management plan. Bass help prevent bluegills from overpopulating and stunting by thinning numbers. Flatheads get large enough to thin (eat) your biggest bluegill and some fairly large bass. You want bluegills in your pond and not hybrid bluegill or green sunfish. Also, you want to try not harvest the biggest ones as bluegill mature at different sizes based upon competition.
Lots of pond and fisheries management information at www.pondboss.com. I found out about that forum from someone on here a few years ago and have told several on that forum about this one.