Best size to start taking out of a pond?

[Bill Purmort]

I've got a nice acre pond behind my house that really needs to have some fish taken out of it so that the average size begins to increase. I can probably take an average 1/2 to 3/4 LB fish on any given evening...do you think that is big enough or should I let them go for a while?

[Josh Milczski (Omaha)]

Bill, I would keep or release based on two things. Condition and sex. If you have plenty of fish of varying conditions, release those of better condition back into the gene pool. Compare head and tail size to body for this. The ones with the better growth rates, put back. Secondly, a common practice is to keep the females and release the males. Unless a female is of exceptional condition, pull it.

[Bill Purmort]

Josh,

See now I would have thought the exact opposite, release the females...thanks for the your input.

 

Bill

[Jim Gronaw]

The best guys on this site to answer that would be Bruce  Condello or Bob Lusk, the Pond Boss. Those guys know their stuff on management of small ponds for tanker gills.

Having said that, I would say that if your gills are averaging 1/2 to 3/4 lb, then you have a pretty good fishery already. If you want pounders and beyond, then supplemental feeding may be in order and a slight change in dynamics ( bass/ gill ratio or predator influence ) may also need adjustment through stocking or harvesting fish.

Check out the Pond Boss website and there will be a ton of info on these, and closely related, topics.

[Bill Purmort]

Thanks Jim,
I was just at Richmond Mill with Mat Lipscomb and have delusions that all fisheries should be like that.

Bill

[Josh Milczski (Omaha)]

Completely agree with Jim that feeding your BG pellets is a must if your goal is big bluegill.  And definitely check out Pond Boss.  Your pond will thank you.