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Determining Fish Pond Balance

Mississippi is blessed with about a quarter million lakes and ponds we commonly call farm ponds. These lakes or ponds range in size from less than 1 acre up to 40 to 50 acres, and represent a valuable fisheries resource to private landowners in Mississippi.

Most pondowners are familiar with the fact that bass and bream populations in ponds tend to move toward an unbalanced situation, and they believe ponds must be restocked periodically to maintain productivity and a desirable fishing situation.

In fact, a properly stocked and managed bass/bream pond can remain in balance for a long time, eliminating the need to start over. 

Unfortunately, many ponds eventually are neglected or overfished, and the fish populations become less than desirable. When bass/bream populations no longer provide satisfactory fishing on a sustained basis, they are considered to be "out of balance." Questions many pondowners ask include: What is the balance situation in my pond, and what are my management options? Do I need to start over again, or can my fish population be salvaged? This publication will provide information to help pondowners assess their bass/bream populations and to make informed decisions regarding pond management.

Who Can Determine Balance?

It is sometimes possible to obtain assistance from state or federal agencies in checking your fish population to determine balance. In Mississippi, a limited amount of assistance is available from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and from the Soil Conservation Service. Both have fisheries biologists who can provide pond assessment services on a limited basis. Demand for this service always exceeds what biologists can handle, and many pondowners are not able to schedule assistance from one of these agencies. A few private fisheries consultants also provide these services on a fee basis, but such an investment is usually economically practical only for larger ponds and lakes. Consequently, the ability and knowledge to check your own pond periodically can be a great advantage.

Data-Collection Methods

Checking your own pond balance requires using one or both of two information-gathering techniques. The best strategy is to use both and combine observations from each. Knowledge of the fishing success of those who fish the pond is the first data-collection method. A good record-keeping system can be invaluable as you manage your pond or lake. Extension Form 944 provides a simple method of keeping fishing records.

The other data-gathering method is using a short 15- to 25-foot minnow seine, with a mesh of 1/4 to 1/8 inch. Many sporting goods stores sell inexpensive seines called "common-sense" minnow seines that are acceptable for this purpose. A longer seine (30 to 50 feet) of about 1/2-inch mesh can also be used, but seines this size are usually harder to obtain and can be expensive.

Seine in late spring after bass have spawned (usually late May through June). The technique is easy, but requires two people. One person holds one end of the seine on the edge of the water, while the other wades into the pond and then parallel to the bank for a few yards, then back into the bank. Move the seine slowly, and be sure to keep the weights on the bottom to prevent fish from escaping. Seine shallow areas that are free of roots, stumps, and weeds.

Record the numbers of each species of fish captured; categorize bluegills into four groups: less than 1 inch (recently hatched), 1 to 3 inches, 3 to 5 inches (intermediate), and greater than 5 inches. Observe for small (fingerling) bass, and check for undesirable species such as shad, shiners, green sunfish, and mudcats. Repeat this process several times at various locations around the pond, keeping records of each seine pull.

Analyzing the Data

Once you have the catch data or have completed the seine pulls, refer to the appropriate Analysis Table to determine your pond's status. If you are analyzing seine data, the first question is whether young-of-the-year (fingerlings hatched this year) bass are present. Find the appropriate response (I or II in Table 1), and then look under the middle section options to find the situation that describes your bluegills. The corresponding "condition" section will then tell you what your pond situation is likely to be. The Management Recommendations section (Table 3) will describe your options.

If you are analyzing catch data, the first question is whether bass are caught by fishermen. Find the appropriate response (I or II) in Table 2, and then follow the same procedure as described for analyzing seine data.

Table 1. Assessment of pond balance using a seine.

  

  
Condition

I. No young largemouth bass present

Many recently hatched bluegills;
no or few intermediate bluegills

Temporary balance; bass crowded. See Table 3, recommendation 1, 2, or 3

No recent hatch of bluegills; many intermediate bluegills

Unbalanced; overcrowded bluegills. See Table 3, recommendation 4 or 5

No recent hatch of bluegills; many intermediate bluegills, many tadpoles or minnows or crawfish.

Unbalanced, overcrowded bluegills; few or no bass present. See recommendation 5 or 6

No recent hatch bluegills; few intermediate bluegills

Unbalanced population; crowding due to competitive species (bullheads, crappie, suckers, shed, etc.). See recommendation 6

No recent hatch bluegills; few intermediate bluegills, intermediate green sunfish

Unbalanced; crowding due to green sunfish. See recommendation 5 or 6

No recent hatch bluegills; few intermediate bluegills

Unbalanced or no forage fish present. See recommendation 7 or 8

II. Young largemouth bass present

Many recently hatched bluegills few intermediate bluegills

Balanced. See recommendation 9

Many recently hatched bluegills; few or no intermediate bluegills

Bass crowded; will have large bluegills. See recommendation 1, 2, or 10

No recent hatch of bluegills; no intermediate bluegills

Unbalanced; may be no bluegills; bass may be spawning but not bluegills. See recommendation 7 or 8

No recent hatch of bluegills; few intermediate bluegills

Temporary balance, leading to imbalance; competing species with bluegill likely, especially shad. See recommendation 11

Table 2. Analysis of pond balance using catch data.

  

  
Condition

I. Largemouth bass are caught by fisherman

Most bass are large and plump; few or none are less than 2 to 3 pounds; bluegills are small, mostly less than 5 to 6 inches

Unbalanced; overcrowded bluegills. See recommendation 4 or 5

Most bass caught are small (9 to 12 inches) and few exceed 2 pounds; bluegills are large, mostly 6 inches or longer.

Unbalanced; bass crowded. See recommendation 1, 2, or 10

Only an occasional bass is caught, usually exceeding 3 pounds. Bluegills are numerous and small, mostly less than 5 to 6 inches.

Unbalanced; overcrowded bluegills. See recommendation 4 or 5

Bass of all sizes caught; most bass 10 to 15 inches, but some larger; all in plump condition. Bluegills of all sizes caught, mostly 5 to 8 inches, all in plump condition.

 

Balanced; do nothing but enjoy your fishing

II. No largemouth bass are caught by fisherman

Only catfish are caught.

May be stocked with only catfish. See recommendation 12

Only bream are caught; all are in poor condition, and all are less than 4 to 5 inches.

Unbalanced, overcrowded bluegills. See recommendation 4 or 5

No bream are caught; other species, such as mudcats, shiners, and green sunfish, are caught.

 

Unbalanced; undesirable species. See recommendation 6 or 7

 
Table 3. Management Recommendations for Tables 1 and 2

  1. Remove 30 to 40 pounds of bass per acre by fishing (one time only).
  2. Stock 200 to 300 3- to 5-inch bluegills per acre.
  3. Do nothing; you will have a crowded bass pond with large bluegills; see Table 2 (Catch Record Data), and use the table for analysis.
  4. Remove intermediate bluegills with shoreline poisoning in the early fall; see Extension Publication 1954 for procedures.
  5. Stock 25 to 35 10- to 12-inch bass per acre.
  6. Rotenone and restock; see Extension Publication 1954 for procedures, and Publication 1892 for selecting species to restock.
  7. Check catch data to see if any bass are caught; if bass have been caught, stock 200 to 300 intermediate-to-large bluegills per acre.
  8. Check catch data to see if any bass are caught. If no bass are caught, rotenone and restock; see Extension Publication 1954 for procedures and Publication 1892 for selecting species to restock.
  9. Do nothing; you have a balanced pond. Check catch data (Table 2) to be sure fishing is desirable.
  10. If you like catching large bluegills and can live with poor bass growth, do nothing. You have a trophy bream pond!
  11. Check catch data; if shad have been observed, do a selective shad kill. Refer to Extension Information Sheet 1479 for procedures.
  12. If catch rates are desirable, monitor catch and restock when catch rates decline.

Note: Although the Analysis and Recommendation Tables presented here do not cover all possible situations, they do address the most common problems and situations. In many cases, more than one alternative may be successful, or one alternative may be clearly superior to the others listed. It is a good idea to have your conclusions checked by a competent fisheries biologist before making drastic changes to your pond or lake.

By Dr. Martin W. Brunson, Extension Leader and Fisheries Specialist, Department of Wildlife and Fisheries

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

Publication 1952
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director

Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.

This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.
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