I live in a neighborhood with a couple of decent sized catch and release ponds and an HOA. I fish one of them probably 10-15 times per year. The fish I catch appear healthy but usually average about 1 - 1 1/2 pounds with some smaller fish thrown in there and an occasional bigger fish but nothing over 3 lbs. The pond is limited to folks who live there and the pond security guards as I call them keep a good eye out for trespassers and run them off. The pond gets some pressure but honestly it doesn't get pounded. I've been told that originally bass, perch/bluegill and catfish were all stocked. I've never caught a catfish out of it and only 1 perch, mostly bass but no really big ones. My guess is, with it being a catch and release pond only that there are just too many fish for any of them to grow to any size. Obviously I'm a bass guy. I'd love to make this into my own little Camelot Bell but that's not gonna happen. The pond is for all ages and types so that's just something I'm going to have to deal with.

Since that's all the info I know, would there be any advantage to stocking baitfish/crawdads with the hopes of growing bigger fish? I would prefer to fish out the small ones but that's going to go over like a lead balloon. I'm not sure what to do but would like to improve upon what I've got if at all possible. My guess is the pond is 50-60 yards long and approximately 20 yards wide and I have no idea what it looks like beneath the surface as far as any structure but I feel very little when i've fished it.

Try fishing with an earthworm on the bottom. I would throw out 6 or 7 rods in several locations. Fishing with earthworms should give you an idea of what is actually in the pond. That will provide good information on how to proceed. The bass have to be eating something. My guess ifs that there are sunfish in there and stocking in more fish may not help.

If you don't own it and/or control it, pond management in that situation is basically a waste of time and money. Catch and release is an anathema to good pond management. Sorry to say, but the truth hurts sometimes.

If you would end up growing some decent sized bass it wouldn't take long before someone discovers them, and they will soon disappear.......Don't ask how I know this!

Exactly my thoughts and agree that its the truth. I'm having a hard time discerning between 'neighborhood pond' and 'MY Neighborhood pond'. May be better left alone and just enjoyed for what it is!



Totally believe you. Those that live around the pond already have a difficult time keeping out those that don't live in the neighborhood.