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Skinny Bass
#12499912
11/11/17 12:26 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491
Lee Finlay
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491 |
One of my favorite city ponds has really gone downhill. I used to catch 4-5lb bass all the time.
The last few times I've gone, the smaller bass look normal, but any fish over 18" looks sick. They are very skinny and look malnourished.
My thoughts are that the food supply is out of whack. Families are always fishing for bluegill, and they don't catch as many nowadays.
Is there anything I can do to help?
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12500048
11/11/17 03:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 80
RickD78
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 80 |
Dump a pound or two of minnows every now and then. Some will be eaten, but some will repopulate.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12500153
11/11/17 05:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,326
Meadowlark
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,326 |
Dumping a few minnows may make you feel good...but will do virtually nothing for the bass.
It takes 10 pounds of forage to add one pound of weight to a bass.
You stated the problem when you said "Families are always fishing for bluegill, and they don't catch as many nowadays." ... and I could add with almost certainty, they keep every bluegill they catch.
Since its a city pond, IMO you are just wasting your time trying to remedy the situation. The public will always catch and keep those bluegills and it will be next to impossible to rebuild the forage base.
Tilapia is one possibility. They can be difficult for the public to catch....but of course the public will resort to netting them. Tilapia will take pressure off the bluegills allowing them to replenish and also provide tons of forage for the bass.
Its problematic, the public generally takes out everything...and then wonders what happened to the fishing.
Sorry to say it, but you are pissing up a rope when it comes to public waters.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12501170
11/12/17 06:37 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491
Lee Finlay
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491 |
Thanks for the feedback.
Let's say, hypothetically, there was another pond nearby that was overrun with bluegill.
Would it be a good idea to get a casting net and move a few hundred from one pond to another?
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12501489
11/12/17 11:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,326
Meadowlark
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,326 |
Can you somehow limit "Families are always fishing for bluegill"?
Its worth a try...but if folks just come in and catch and eat, then about all you will accomplish is refining your cast net throwing.
I'd probably try it anyway.
Good luck.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Meadowlark]
#12502476
11/13/17 10:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491
Lee Finlay
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491 |
That's a fluctuating variable.
Some years nobody goes after bluegill. This year a lot of Indian families gave fishing a try. They mainly went after bluegill and catfish, the easy ones to catch.
They probably won't be back next year, but new families might.
If we could educate people about how much damage they can do to public waters, we might make a difference.
Until then, restocking bait fish might help slow down the damage they caused.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12502557
11/13/17 11:30 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,128
salex
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,128 |
Meadowlark said it well. He is spot on.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12503693
11/14/17 11:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259 |
Did you consider telling the family is keeping the fish about the sewage leaks that have been happening in that area into those ponds?
And that there have not been any studies done on the water to verify that those fish are safe to eat?
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12504064
11/15/17 10:21 AM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491
Lee Finlay
OP
Angler
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491 |
I haven't specifically mentioned sewage, but I've talked about how the fish aren't clean.
They don't care.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12507072
11/17/17 08:42 PM
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 985
BrockstaRama
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 985 |
What about dumping a big bag of crawfish? I can't believe people perch at ponds! So many gross things in there.
When I am not fishing I am thinking about fishing. And mostly what I should have done differently my last trip! #Brockstarama
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: BrockstaRama]
#12511488
11/21/17 05:02 PM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491
Lee Finlay
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491 |
What about dumping a big bag of crawfish? I can't believe people perch at ponds! So many gross things in there. I like this idea. I've never bought crawfish. Where can I find them in the Irving area?
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12514727
11/24/17 03:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259 |
What about dumping a big bag of crawfish? I can't believe people perch at ponds! So many gross things in there. I like this idea. I've never bought crawfish. Where can I find them in the Irving area? Honestly man IDK that a bag a crawfish will do anything at all. Its much more difficult than that to change up size structure in a pond. ESP public pond. Save your money or just eat the crawfish.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12518492
11/28/17 03:01 AM
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491
Lee Finlay
OP
Angler
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OP
Angler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 491 |
Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for being blunt.
I just feel like I'm using the pond, and the least I could do is help it out a little bit.
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Re: Skinny Bass
[Re: Lee Finlay]
#12518628
11/28/17 12:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259
Dan90210 ☮
Jr Deputy Dan
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Jr Deputy Dan
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 39,259 |
The best thing one man can do and most cost effective is cover...add cover. Lots of brush. The more the better
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