Texas Farm Ponds:

Stocking, Assessment, and Management Recommendations

Special Publication No. 1Texas Chapter

American Fisheries Society

Revised September l996

This publication was prepared by members of the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. It rep-resents a consensus on guidelines for stocking and managing Texas farm ponds and has been endorsedby the Texas Aquaculture Association.

Texas Agricultural Extension Service • Zerle L. Carpenter, Director • The Texas A&M University System • College Station, Texas

Most farm ponds and small impoundments inTexas are not managed at their highest potentialfor fish production.This is especially unfortunate,since an estimated 20 percent of fishing trips inTexas are to these waters. This publication pre-sents a concise set of guidelines for stocking andmanaging fish in new, renovated, or old ponds.

This publication was prepared by the TexasChapter of the American Fisheries Society to pro-vide information to the pond owner who has littleor no knowledge of fishery management. Specificinformation on assessment techniques, interpret-ing assessment data, and corrective managementare included to help the pond owner developlong-range management plans.

This information is intended primarily forponds less than 5 acres in surface area, but it maybe useful for larger impoundments as well. How-ever, you should discuss the management of theselarger bodies of water and/or unusual manage-ment problems with a qualified fisheries biologist.Stocking and management advice is availablefrom various state and federal agencies, universi-ties, private consultants, and fish farmers.

Management Considerations

And ObjectivesBefore you can develop a management plan for

your pond, you must first decide on objectivesthat are both desirable and attainable. Theseobjectives will be influenced by your preferencesfor certain species and sizes of fish, the pond’sbasic productivity, and your interest in and com-mitment to increasing that productivity.

Pond CharacteristicsPond Size. The size of your pond is the major

factor that will determine what fish you need tostock, the degree of management needed to main-tain these fish, and how many fish you can har-vest each year. Most farm ponds in Texas are builtfor livestock watering and are less than 1 acre insurface area. Although owners of small ponds tra-ditionally want “bass in their tanks,” these smallponds are really not suited for bass populations.Bass harvest in small ponds is especially difficultbecause over-fishing may allow overpopulation offorage species, while under-fishing may lead to aforage deficiency that reduces bass growth. Insmall ponds, it is usually better to stock catfish

alone, since they provide more fishing recreationand food for the table and they can be fed com-mercially prepared feed. Ponds larger than 1 sur-face acre are more suitable for more than onespecies. If these larger ponds are stocked, man-aged, and harvested properly, you can expectmany years of satisfactory fishing for all sportspecies. Or, if you prefer, they can also be man-aged for catfish only.

Many pond owners have difficulty estimatingthe surface area of their ponds. It is easy to over-estimate, and this often leads to overstocking. Ifyour pond fluctuates considerably in surface area,stock it based on the average annual low-watersurface area. Remember that 1 surface acre con-tains 43,560 square feet. Formulas for calculatingthe surface area in acres of the most commonpond shapes (square or rectangular, triangular,and round) are provided below to assist you indetermining the size of your pond. All dimensionsshould be measured in feet.

Muddy Water. Some Texas ponds tend to staymuddy. This muddiness is caused by suspendedclay particles in the water; don’t confuse it withthe turbidity resulting from a plankton bloom.Muddy waters hinder the growth of organisms thefish eat and may also affect the reproduction andgrowth of the fish themselves. Suspended soil par-ticles in pond water can result from watershederosion, wave action, large populations of bull-heads or carp, or cattle wading into the water andstirring the mud. Correcting the problem usuallycauses the material to settle to the bottom of thepond. If, however, the suspended material is col-loidal clay particles, it will not settle out, and youmust add organic material or chemicals to thewater to correct the situation. In muddy water,bass do not usually do well, and you should stockonly catfish. Sources of more information aboutclearing muddy ponds are listed in the Referencessection.

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width

len

gth

len

gth

width

shoreline length

length x width43,560

1/2 (width at dam x length43,560

(shoreline length)2

547,390

Total Alkalinity. Ponds in different areas of thestate have different water chemistry, caused byfactors like soil type, water sources, and water-shed. The water chemistry in a pond affects theprimary productivity, which in turn determinesthe number of fish to stock. One characteristicthat controls the ability of a pond to produce foodfor fish is alkalinity. Alkalinity is the measure ofbuffering capacity. If you plan to fertilize, youshould have the alkalinity checked. Total alkalini-ty should be at least 20 parts per million (ppm) ifyour fertilization program is to be effective. If thealkalinity is less than 20 ppm and you want tofertilize, agricultural limestone can be added toincrease alkalinity. Your county Extension agent,local Natural Resources Conservation Serviceoffice, Texas Parks and Wildlife fisheries biologist,or information in the References can help youestimate the alkalinity in your pond and provideguidance for adding lime.

Water Fluctuation. Ponds in different parts ofthe state experience different annual rainfall andevaporation rates. While East Texas farm pondsare usually full most of the year, South and WestTexas ponds may experience drastic draw-downsduring the summer months. These draw-downsconcentrate all the fish in small areas and canreduce populations through either predation oroxygen depletion. You can minimize the impactof such draw-downs by providing deep water (12to 16 feet) in part of the pond. If your pond issubject to drastic draw-downs, stock it based onits size during the draw-down.

Fertilization. Commercial inorganic fertilizercan greatly increase fish production in ponds.Fertilization will not only increase the basic pro-ductivity of a body of water but, when properlymanaged, it will control aquatic vegetation inwater deeper than 2 feet. Too much fertilizer can,however, lead to oxygen depletion in the pond.Do not fertilize muddy ponds, ponds that have acontinuous water flow, or ponds that are stockedwith catfish only and fed more than three times aweek. Because of the increased production inproperly fertilized ponds, higher stocking ratesare recommended for them.

Any type of water-soluble granular or liquidfertilizer may be used. Use about 1 to 2 pounds ofnitrogen (N) and 8 pounds of phosphorous (P205)per acre per application. Nitrogen may not beneeded for some older ponds. Apply granular fer-tilizer on a platform or plastic bag in shallow

water. Dilute liquid fertilizer about 10 to 1 withwater and apply it on the pond surface. Beginpond fertilization in the spring when the daysbecome consistently warm. Check the responsewith an 8-inch diameter disk made of metal orplastic and painted black and white (this is calleda “secchi disk”). Make fertilizer applications at 1-to 2-week intervals until the disk is no longer visi-ble 24 inches below the water surface (this indi-cates a secchi disk value of 24). Wait until thedisk is visible deeper than 24 inches before mak-ing additional treatments. Continue fertilizinguntil late September.

Do not fertilize muddy ponds, ponds infestedwith aquatic weeds, or ponds that are flushedwith large volumes of water until these problemsare corrected. Several available publications (list-ed in the References section) give detailedinstructions for pond fertilization; consult thembefore beginning a fertilization program for yourpond.

Fish SpeciesChannel and Blue Catfish. These species do

well in most pond environments and can bestocked alone in ponds of any size or as a supple-ment to bass and forage populations in pondslarger than 1 acre. Channel catfish are more avail-able for stocking, although some pond ownersprefer blue catfish or a combination of the twospecies.

Largemouth Bass. This species is the mostsought-after sport fish in Texas and, in almost allmulti-species pond environments, it is the prima-ry predator. The northern largemouth bass sub-species is native to Texas and has been widelystocked since the turn of the century. Althoughthe Florida subspecies grows to a larger size, it ismore sensitive to very cold temperatures andmore difficult to catch than the native (northernsubspecies) bass. Because of its sensitivity to cold,Florida largemouth should not be stocked alonein ponds in the Texas Panhandle.

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The native bass and Florida bass are oftencrossed to produce an intergrade offspring, com-monly referred to as the F1 “hybrid.” The F1 mayprovide some of the advantages of both species.Florida largemouth will interbreed with natives,so if both subspecies are stocked in the samebody of water, a mixture of Floridas, natives,hybrids, and back-crosses of various mixes willeventually occur.

Bluegill. Many pond owners are reluctant tostock ponds with bluegill because of the fish’sreputation for overpopulation. The bluegill is,however, a fine sport fish and the only fishspecies which can produce the large numbers ofsmall fish needed to provide food for bass.Without them, a quality bass population willprobably not develop. Overpopulation of bluegillsmost commonly occurs because of excessiveescape cover (aquatic vegetation) or over-harvest-ing of the bass in the first season of fishing—bothof which reduce predation on the young bluegills(See Proper Harvest Section). Coppernose bluegillis a unique strain that reaches larger sizes inTexas ponds than other varieties. If you have astrong interest in bluegill fishing, consider stock-ing this species.

Redear Sunfish. Redear sunfish can be stockedwith bluegill in Texas ponds as supplemental for-age. This species is also a fine sport fish and canincrease angling opportunities. Because they eatsnails, they may also reduce fish parasites withina pond.

Hybrid Striped Bass. Hybrid striped bass areanother sport fish that can be stocked in any sizepond to provide additional sport fishing. They willreadily accept artificial feeds, but they will notreproduce in ponds. Hybrids can be stockedalone, with fathead minnows or sunfish, or inbass-bluegill ponds. Consult a biologist if you planto stock these fish.

Fathead Minnows. The fathead minnow is arelatively slow swimmer (very vulnerable to pre-dation), and therefore offers no benefit whenstocked in ponds containing established bass pop-ulations. However, they are very useful whenstocked with catfish that are not being fed regu-larly or in new bass-bluegill ponds to increasefirst-year growth of the bass and bluegill.

Threadfin Shad. This species is an excellentsupplemental forage species for bass, but, like thefathead, it generally cannot withstand bass preda-tion for an extended period of time in a smallpond. They are also sensitive to cold temperaturesand perform best in South Texas, but they cansurvive mild winters in North, East, and CentralTexas. A fertilization program will greatly increasethe success of threadfin introductions by reducingwater clarity and increasing productivity.

Grass Carp (White Amur). This species, whenstocked in proper numbers, can provide long-term, cost-effective control of submerged aquaticvegetation in ponds. However, only specially pro-duced sterile (triploid) grass carp are legal in Texasponds, and a special permit is required. Contactthe Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fordetails.

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Undesirable Fish. Many other species of fishhave been stocked in Texas ponds, but none havebeen as consistently successful as largemouthbass, channel catfish, bluegills, redear sunfish, fat-head minnows, or combinations of these fish.While other species may do well in streams, lakes,or reservoirs, they often cause problems in pondsor are not suited for pond environments. Do notstock the species listed below or any species notlisted without first consulting a fisheries biologist.

Crappie are very undesirable for stocking inponds. They compete with bass for food, eatsmall bass, and tend to overpopulate and becomestunted.

Hybrid sunfish are often touted as a “super-fish.” However, the crosses used to produce thesehybrids are not good forage fish and should notbe stocked with bass. Hybrid sunfish perform bestwhen stocked alone or with channel catfish andfed regularly with a commercial catfish ration.Some reproduction can be expected, but the off-spring will not be as desirable as the originalhybrid. Eventually, pond renovation and restock-ing become necessary because of overpopulationand stunting.

Golden shiners are occasionally stocked in oldponds to increase forage for bass. They should notbe stocked in new ponds.

Carp, bullheads, and green sunfish often areinadvertently stocked or enter the pond from theupper watershed, in-flowing streams, or down-stream during spillway flow. Carp and bullheadsare bottom feeders that can stir up the pond andcause muddy water. Bullheads and green sunfish

are notorious for overpopulating, particularly ifbass populations are reduced.

Flathead (opelousas or yellow) catfish areoften stocked in ponds by the pond owner orwell-meaning anglers, but this is a big mistake.This predator consumes large numbers of allspecies of fish. An unbalanced pond can seldombe corrected by adding this fish.

Planning For StockingSmall Ponds. Impoundments and reservoirs

less than 1 surface acre in size are considered“small ponds” for the purposes of this publica-tion. Most ponds in Texas are less than 1 acre insize, and many are less than 1/2 acre in surfacearea. These waters are almost always used forlivestock, and fish management is usually notconsidered when the pond is built. But, after thepond is full of water, the owner often becomesinterested in stocking fish.

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Before stocking your small pond, remove anyexisting fish. New ponds should present no prob-lems. Older ponds may have many different com-binations of fish that will interfere with produc-tion. Avoid management hassles—clean out thepond. Consult the References for information onusing rotenone to renovate ponds. Catfish are rec-ommended for stocking in small ponds, sincethey provide the most fishing recreation and foodfor the table. Because catfish are more widely dis-tributed and transportation costs of fish can beprohibitive, most small pond owners prefer tostock catfish, either channels or blues. Catfishmay be stocked anytime; however, fish-eatingbirds can take a heavy toll from late Octoberthrough April.

If you are feeding the catfish, feed them dailyduring the growing season (April through Novem-ber), giving them the amount of feed they will eatin 10 to 15 minutes, but not more than 30 poundsper acre per day. Feed them about once a weekduring the other months. A daily feeding programwith a good-quality commercial feed can result in1 pound of fish gain for every 2 pounds of feedand will grow catfish to a catchable size in theshortest period of time. If daily visits to the pondare not practical, you can use an automatic feed-er. Commercial catfish feed is available from feedand seed stores. Choose a good commercial float-ing or sinking pellet with at least 30-percent pro-tein. Floating feeds may be more expensive, butthey allow you to watch the fish while they feed,which reduces waste and provides entertainment.

Do not encourage catfish reproduction in smallponds by adding spawning devices or structures.Spawning will result in stunted fish. The totalweight of the catfish should never be allowed toexceed the pond’s carrying capacity (a maximumof 1,000 pounds per surface acre during the warmmonths). If your goal is to produce larger catfish,decrease the stocking rates accordingly. The prob-ability of losing fish because of an oxygen deple-tion increases dramatically when the pond’s car-rying capacity is exceeded.

Large Ponds. For this discussion, ponds largerthan 1 acre are considered “large ponds.” Manylarge ponds are stocked with largemouth bass,and proper management of bass is the key togood fishing. Species stocked primarily to provideforage for bass are bluegill, redear sunfish, forageminnows, and possibly threadfin shad. A well-

managed, fertilized farm pond should support300 to 500 total pounds of fish per surface acre.

Channel catfish can be stocked to provide addi-tional sport and will not interfere with the criticalbalance between bass and forage. Expect most orall of the reproduction to be removed by the bass,particularly in clear ponds. Muddy ponds andother large ponds, if desired, may be managed forcatfish and fathead minnows alone, as recom-mended for small ponds.

Successful multi-species management in largeponds requires stocking combinations of speciesto achieve a balance between predators (large-mouth bass) and their principal forage species(bluegill). A balanced pond will have:

■ Annual reproduction by largemouth bass andbluegills.

■ Bluegills of many different sizes to providefood for all sizes of largemouth bass.

■ Sufficient growth of both species for satisfac-tory sustained catches by the angler.

Maintaining balanced bass and forage popula-tions is important for good fishing. Proper harvestof intermediate-sized bass and proper stockingschedules are critical for maintaining this balance.Proper bass harvest is discussed in more depthelsewhere in this publication.

The stocking schedule depends mainly uponthe size of the bass stocked. When you plan tostock fingerling (1- to 3-inch) bass, stock finger-ling (1- to 3-inch) bluegills and redear sunfish, for-age minnows, and catfish larger than 4 inches inthe late fall, followed by the bass fingerlings thenext spring. This schedule ensures that:

■ The forage species and catfish are largeenough when the bass are stocked that thebass will not deplete the original stocking ofthe forage fish and catfish.

■ The forage species will have had an opportu-nity to spawn, creating a food supply fornewly stocked bass.

If adult (longer than 3 inches) bluegills andredear sunfish are used, you may stock themeither simultaneously with the fingerling bass orin the late fall followed by the fingerling bass thenext spring.

Large bass and bluegill are sometimes used tostock new ponds, but this practice is not recom-

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mended because it makes the achieving a properbalance less certain.

Stocking GuideRecommended numbers of fingerling fish to be

stocked in small or large ponds are shown inTable 1.

Proper HarvestBass. Improper harvest of largemouth bass

ruins future fishing in Texas ponds more oftenthan any other cause. Pond owners and otheranglers often overharvest bass in the first seasonof fishing, allowing bluegills to overpopulate. Nobass should be removed for the first 2 years afterstocking.

You can reduce the chances of overharvestingthe bass by making your pond off-limits to every-one. But this is not recommended, because under-fishing can lead to about as many problems asover-fishing. In established bass populations, it isa good idea to remove surplus bass less than 12inches long. Although you control access to yourpond, don’t deny entrance to a responsible anglerwilling to follow a few simple rules regardingcatch-and-release of certain sizes of fish.Encourage all anglers to record their catch byspecies and size (see the Appendix for more infor-mation on using these records). This record-keep-ing system provides you with an estimate of thesize composition and relative abundance of gamespecies over time.

The growth rate for largemouth bass is affectedby several factors, including genetics, water quali-ty, habitat, and forage availability. Average growthrates for bass in Texas are:

Age I 8 inches

Age II 12 inches

Age III 15 inches

Age IV 17 inches

Age V 18 inches

The most sensible way to prevent bass overhar-vest is to establish a minimum length limit of 15inches for the first 3 years after stocking. Ifanglers abide by the restriction and release allbass smaller than 15 inches, the pond shouldbegin producing good fish of all species. The bassthat were originally stocked will have to supportthe majority of the catch for 3 years, so they haveto be used wisely.

After 3 years, you need to make a decisionabout the kind of bass-fishing you want to pro-mote for your pond. Bass will have reproducedtwo or three times during this 3-year period, andthe pond may have large numbers of young bass.If the young bass are under-harvested, they willhave to compete for the available food and theirgrowth rates will be poor. The result will be a basspopulation consisting mainly of fish less than 12inches long. All these small bass will reduce thenumbers of small bluegill, and the pond will havea surplus of 7- to 8-inch bluegills.

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Table 1. Recommended Numbers of Fingerlings to Stock for Various Management Options in Texas Farm Ponds.Pond Size Stocking Option Fish Species Number per Surface Acre to Stock

Un-Fed Fed1

Fertilized Unfertilized

Any Size Catfish Only Channel Catfish Up to 300 + 3 pounds Up to 150 +3 pounds Up to or Blue Catfish fathead minnows fathead minnows 10003

More Than Bass/Bluegill Largemouth Bass 100 50One Acre Bluegill 1,000 500

or Channel Catfish2 100 50

Bass/Bluegill/ Largemouth Bass 100 50Redear Bluegill 750 375

and and andRedear Sunfish 250 125Channel Catfish2 100 50

1Do not fertilize catfish ponds where catfish are being fed. 2May be stocked to increase fishing opportunities. 3Above 700 fish, harvest is mandatory at 2 to 3 pounds.

If you are interested in catching bass largerthan 12 inches long, 8- to 12-inch bass must beharvested. Harvest about 25 8- to 12-inch bass(weighing a total of 10 to 15 pounds) per acreeach year after the third year from stocking.Removing these small bass reduces competitionand allows some fish to grow to larger sizes. Thefollowing chart shows average weights for bass ofvarious lengths. These statistics are useful for esti-mating the total poundage removed per surfaceacre per year.

Bass Length (inches) Average Weight (pounds)8 0.259 0.35

10 0.5011 0.7012 0.9013 1.1014 1.5015 1.8016 2.2517 2.7018 3.3019 3.9020 4.5021 5.40

To keep the bluegill in good condition, incorpo-rate a “slot limit” for releasing 12- to 15-inch bassfrom the third year on. Releasing bass of this sizewill also ensure that some bass will grow to morethan 15 inches. Keep the harvest of bass longerthan 15 inches to a minimum so that some larger,quality bass will survive.

If bass have not been harvested properly, youmay need to make adjustments to the fish com-munity. It is likely that the bass have been over-harvested if anglers are catching mainly 3- to 5-inch bluegills and few or no bass. This problemcan be corrected by stocking 40 8- to 12-inch bassper acre. Until small bass become abundant, makesure that all bass caught are released. Then, basssmaller than 12 inches and larger than 15 inchescan again be harvested.

If many small bass and only a few largebluegills are caught, the bass have been underhar-vested. In this case, stock 30 bluegills, at least 5inches long, per acre. Harvest about 25 8- to 12-inch bass per acre each year thereafter. Again,bass 12 inches long and larger should be released.

If you decide to stock a new pond with limitednumbers of advanced bass and bluegills ratherthan fingerling fish, the few bass must be

returned to the pond and carefully protected. Youcannot afford to lose the original fish, as they arepresent in limited numbers.

Catfish. You may begin harvesting catfishwhenever the fish reach an edible size. Check cat-fish of catchable size for body condition.Numerous “skinny” catfish could be caused byovercrowding (corrected by increased harvest)and/or inadequate food supply (corrected byincreased feeding frequency).

Catch records are important for determiningwhen supplemental stocking is needed. In catfish-only ponds, at least half of the original fish shouldbe caught before restocking. The total weight ofcatfish in these ponds should not exceed 1,000pounds per surface acre during the warm monthsto decrease the risk of fish losses from oxygendepletion. In ponds where catfish were stocked incombination with largemouth bass and forage,occasional restocking may be needed to maintainthe catfish populations over time. In these ponds,supplementally stock catfish at least 10 inches inlength at the rate of 25 to 50 per surface acre at 2-to 4-year intervals. However, the total weight ofcatfish in “combination” ponds should not exceed250 pounds per surface acre to reduce potentialcompetition for food between species.

Assessment and Corrective Actions

in Small ImpoundmentsThe size of the pond and the clarity of the

water are critical factors to consider in assessingthe status of the fish in your pond. The specificeffects are discussed in the first section of thispublication.

Identifying Fish SpeciesIdentifying major sport, forage, and rough fish

species is essential for interpreting assessmentinformation. While it is neither practical toinclude every species and subspecies found inTexas in this publication nor necessary for you toknow them, being able to identify the speciesshown here will enhance your managementefforts.

Assessment Techniques for Analyzing Fish PopulationsPoor-quality fishing in most farm ponds is

caused by unbalanced and/or undesirable fishpopulations. To determine the status of a fish pop-ulation, you must take samples to assess the

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species composition and size distribution in yourpond. You can use one of several methods to sam-ple fish populations, including partial rotenonetreatments, electro-shockers, gill nets, traps,shoreline seining, and angler catch records.Although the first four techniques can provideexcellent information, they are not practical formost pond owners. So, most pond owners rely onshoreline seining and angler catch records formaking management decisions.

Figure ?. Quadrant seine haul technique.

Shoreline Seining. Shoreline seining is a goodtechnique for assessing the status of many fishpopulations. Seine from June through September.A 15-x-4-foot minnow seine with 1/4-inch mesh isgood for most ponds. Seining provides informa-tion on the presence and reproductive success oflargemouth bass and bluegill. Excessive aquaticvegetation and brush will make seining difficult.Make a minimum of three quadrant hauls (morein larger lakes) in different areas to collect a rep-resentative fish sample from shoreline habitat (seediagram). Record the numbers and sizes of eachspecies collected for each seine haul.

Angler Catch Records. You can also gatherassessment information from angler catchrecords, which often provide information onspecies not easily collected by shoreline seining.It sounds like fun, but to collect meaningful infor-mation, anglers should fish regularly with a vari-ety of lures and baits (to catch as many of thespecies as possible) or fish consistently with simi-lar gear from year to year (to identify changes inlength and abundance). A sample record form(see Appendix) has been included to indicate per-tinent information to be recorded.

Assessment using angler catch records is onlyas good as the information collected; thereforemake an extra effort to record the numbers andlengths of all species caught, along with otherpertinent observations. Definite trends in harvestcomposition will become apparent over time, pro-viding you with reliable information necessary formaking management decisions.

A recent research study found a strong correla-tion between sport fishing and electrofishing datain largemouth bass populations, when %PSD(Percentage Size Distribution), %RSD-15 (RelativeStock Density), and Wr (relative weight) valueswere compared.

There was a weaker correlation between sportfishing and electrofishing data for sunfish popula-tions when values for %PSD, %RSD-8, and Wrwere compared. The fishing method describedbelow for largemouth bass was used in that study,and the method described for sunfish shouldincrease the strength of that correlation.

The objective of these fishing methods is tocatch fish that represent the proportion of differ-ent sizes present in the pond.

A: To collect largemouth bass

1. Use artificial lures in three length cate-gories: 1- to 2-inch, 2- to 4-inch, and 4- to8-inch. The combination of these lurelengths allows you to target all sizes ofbass in the pond.

2. Fish each lure for 30-minute intervals untilyou have caught 20 largemouth bass 8inches or longer.

3. Be sure to fish all three lures an equalamount of time before you stop fishing.

4. Fish all areas of the pond.

The fish caught in each 30-minute intervalshould be kept alive until the end of the intervaland then weighed and measured. If you arereturning them to the pond, clip their fins so youcan be sure not to count them again in the analy-sis. Be aware that, in muddy ponds (secchi diskvalues 12 inches or less), this fishing method willoverestimate the proportion of large fish in thepopulation.

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Shoreline

B: To collect sunfish

1. Use 1 or 2 segments of a Berkley PowerWiggler or some other small lure on a #8hook, 1 split shot, and light line.

2. Fish until you collect 100 sunfish. Returnthe fish to the pond every 30 minutes,after weighing and measuring them.

3. Fish each lure an equal amount of time.

4. Fish all areas of the pond.

With these fishing methods, you can use thedata you collect to calculate population structureindices for largemouth bass and sunfish in ponds.However, this method is not a substitute for hav-ing an experienced biologist sample your pondand make management recommendations.

Interpreting the ResultsOnce you have collected assessment data for

your pond,you must interpret it to make manage-ment decisions. Interpretations are based on thespecies composition and sizes for bass-bluegillpopulations.

Species Composition. The first factor to exam-ine for all ponds is the presence or absence ofcertain key species. If undesirable fish have beenstocked or have entered the pond, you mustassess their impact as competitors or predators ofthe desirable species.

Species like gar, bowfin, flathead catfish, orchain pickerel compete with largemouth bass foravailable forage. Green sunfish, hybrid sunfish,and warmouth produce small numbers of youngand compete for forage with small largemouthbass. As a result, largemouth bass do not performwell in ponds with only those species. The pres-ence of these species in a pond with an adequatebluegill population, however, poses little threat tobass populations.

Crappie also compete with largemouth bass forforage, and their high reproductive rate may cre-ate stunted, starving crappie populations in smallimpoundments.

Other undesirables, regardless of the size of thepond, include black or yellow bullheads, commoncarp, carpsuckers, buffalo, and Rio Grande cichlid(Rio Grande perch). These species compete withdesirable species for food and space. Several ofthese species can create muddy conditions inponds.

In ponds managed for catfish only, any preda-tor capable of feeding on catfish (such as large-mouth bass, gar, or flathead catfish) should beavoided. Likewise, species that compete with thecatfish for food (like green sunfish, golden shin-ers, and black or yellow bullheads) are undesir-able.

Bass-Bluegill Population Structure. After youhave determined which species are present, seineto determine the presence or absence of bass andbluegill reproduction. These two species providethe basis for predator-prey relationships in Texasfarm ponds. The seine is the best single methodfor gathering information on overall pond bal-ance. Use Table 2 to evaluate the data collected bythe quadrant seine haul technique. The presenceor absence of bass and bluegill reproductionshould almost always provide the informationrequired for pond management decisions.Supplement this information with angler catchrecords whenever possible to provide informationon the sizes of adult sport species in the pond.Some pond owners can use accurate records ofnumbers and sizes of fish caught by anglers formore in-depth assessment and management. Adetailed description of the methods is containedin the Appendix.

Catfish Population Structure. Since shorelineseining will not provide much information on cat-fish, base your assessment of catfish populationson catch records and the general condition of thefish caught. Although these techniques applyspecifically to catfish-only ponds, they can beuseful for catfish assessment in multi-speciesponds as well. At appropriate stocking rates (seeTable 1), survival of stocked catfish will approach100 percent. Knowing how many catfish havebeen removed will allow you to calculate howmany remain in the pond. Under no circum-stances should the total weight of catfish exceed1,000 pounds per surface acre during the warmmonths.

Although some pond owners do not regularlyfeed their catfish, occasional feeding (at intervalsof 1 to 3 weeks) with floating pellets allows you todetermine whether the population has declined. Ifthe number of catfish coming to feed dropsmarkedly and remains low even in a variety ofweather conditions, the population has probablybeen reduced by disease or vandalism. When youcollect the catfish for population assessment, alsomake note of their body condition (plumpness).

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Since a distended gut can be misleading whenyou are making visual appraisals, concentrate onthe thickness of the flesh when you observe thefish from above. If the catfish are overstockedand/or the food supply is insufficient, the fish willbecome “skinnier” over time. This sometimeshappens if unexpected natural spawning occurs.In contrast, as the fish population declinesbecause of fishing (or other mortality), the fleshwill become thicker and “fatter.”

Corrective ManagementThree techniques can be used for correcting

unbalanced or undesirable fish populations: reno-vation, harvest manipulation, and supplementalstocking. However, if unsatisfactory fish popula-tions are the result of poor water quality, improp-er pond design, or an overabundance of aquaticvegetation, these techniques used alone may notbe successful.

Renovation. Consider total renovation usingrotenone if species such as gar, bowfin, flatheadcatfish, chain pickerel, black bullheads, commoncarp, buffalo, and carpsuckers are present. If crap-pie are present, stunting (poor growth) and over-population can sometimes occur, and renovationmay be necessary. The presence of warmouth andgreen sunfish does not require renovation ifbluegill are present or can be supplementallystocked.

Harvest Manipulation. Angler harvest is animportant management tool for adjusting the pop-ulation structure of sport species. For bass and

bluegill ponds, harvest recommendations aredetermined by the relative abundance of the twospecies and their size distributions based onangling records and PSD values (Table 2). Harvestrecommendations for balanced bass-bluegill pop-ulations are given in the HarvestRecommendations section.

For blue or channel catfish, maintain harvestrecords to determine the number of the originalstocking removed. Balanced bass and bluegillpopulations may limit catfish reproduction even ifspawning habitat is provided. If the catfish seemto be in poor condition (they look skinny),increase the harvest substantially to reduce com-petition for the food supply.

All other species caught should be removedfrom the pond regardless of size and number.These include gar, bowfin, flathead catfish, chainpickerel, bullhead, Rio Grande cichlid (Rio Grandeperch), common carp, buffalo, carpsucker, greensunfish, and warmouth.

Supplemental Stocking. Soemtimes, pondassessment evaluations determine that supple-mental stocking is needed to restore balance orestablish a fishery. If shoreline seining and anglerrecords reveal that bass are not present, a popula-tion could be established by stocking 20 8- to 12-inch bass per surface acre, if forage is available. Ifbluegills are abundant and stunted at about 3inches, increase this rate to 40 bass per surfaceacre. If you stock smaller fingerlings, they usuallywon’t survive in a pond with an established popu-

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Table 2. Assessment of Fish Populations Based on Seining June to October. Seine Contents Status Recommendations

Young bass1 present; many recently hatchedbluegills2; few intermediate3 bluegills Population balanced Use 12” to 15” slot or other goal- oriented

harvest regulation

No young bass1; no recently hatched bluegills2; Bluegills overcrowded Stock 20 to 40 8” to 12” bass per acre; many intermediate bluegills3 stop bass harvest for 1 year or completely

renovate & restock pond

No young bass1; many recently hatched Bass badly Remove 25 to 40 of overcrowded size perbluegills2 and very few intermediate bluegill overcrowded acre; return larger bass

No young bass1; no recently hatched bluegills2; Competition from Renovate with rotenone and restockfew intermediate bluegills3 undesirable fish

species

Young largemouth bass present; many recently Moderately Remove 10 to 15 overcrowded bass/acrehatched sunfish; few intermediate sunfish overcrowded bass1Less than 4 inches long2Less than 2 inches long33 inches to 6 inches

lation. A common but unwise practice of manyavid bass anglers is to add more bass just becausebass are what they like to catch. But if the bassare already unable to sustain their numbersbecause of poor water quality or inadequate for-age, adding fingerlings will not correct the situa-tion.

The only time you should stock bass on top ofan existing balanced bass population is to intro-duce Florida bass to spawn with native bass. Theresulting F1 cross of the two subspecies may growfaster and larger than the parents, if proper for-age, habitat, and water quality are present. Stock-ing 20 advanced (6- to 8-inch) Florida bass finger-lings per surface acre should establish a breedingpopulation in most ponds. However, you shouldfirst consult with a fisheries biologist before yousupplementally stock Florida bass. If your assess-ment indicates that bluegill are not present, youshould stock advanced bluegill fingerlings (3 inch-es and larger) at the rate of 40 per surface acre.This is often needed in ponds where warmouthand green sunfish are the only forage speciesavailable for bass. Several species can be stockedwith the bluegill to further increase forage avail-ability. Threadfin shad are often stocked at 200 to500 per surface acre, although restocking is some-times needed in small shallow ponds because ofdie-offs due to this species’ sensitivity to watertemperatures below 42oF and/or over-predationby the bass. This species is a relatively slow swim-mer and will often be rapidly eliminated.

In established multi-species ponds, you canstock channel and/or blue catfish (if none arealready present) at the rate of 100 per surfaceacre. Fingerlings should be no smaller than 10inches to avoid predation by adult bass. Re-stock-ing may be needed every 3 to 5 years at rates ofup to 100 fingerlings per surface acre, since bassand bluegill populations often limit the naturalreproduction of catfish. Do not restock catfish-only ponds until half of the original number havebeen removed. However, the total weight of cat-fish present should never exceed 1,000 poundsper surface acre during the warm months. Thestocking rate you use should be based on the sizeof the pond, the condition and total weight of thecatfish present, and the frequency of feeding.Fathead minnows are often supplementallystocked in catfish-only ponds at the rate of 500 to

1,000 per surface acre to provide additional for-age. Although catfish do not normally spawn insmall ponds, catfish stocked alone should not beencouraged to reproduce by adding spawninghabitat, since reproduction cannot be controlledand overpopulation and stunting may result.

Other Management ConsiderationsSome aspects of pond management are not

covered in detail in this publication. Aquatic weedcontrol, pond renovation, habitat improvement,fertilization, and pond construction are a fewexamples. However, material has been publishedabout these and other important aspects of pondmanagement (see References). Remember, appro-priate stocking is only one step toward enjoyinggood farm-pond fishing. Many of these additionalmanagement techniques are also necessary.

SummaryThis publication provides management infor-

mation to pond owners to increase the recreation-al value of their sport fishery. The informationhere should help you to effectively stock andmanage your pond under most conditions. Evenafter the pond has been properly stocked, anassessment made, and necessary correctiveactions taken, you should continue to monitorfish populations. Shoreline seining and accuratecatch records will provide good assessment infor-mation for your future management decisions. Ifyou encounter special problems or conditions,advice is available from qualified fisheries biolo-gists with consulting firms, fish farms, universi-ties, and state and federal agencies.

Proper management of fish in a pond is asmuch an art as a science. As research continuesand the results are developed into recommenda-tions, pond management will become more suc-cessful.

The art of management will always be a neces-sity. Even if all the science needed for pond man-agement were available in this publication, youwould still need to be able to choose the bestcombination of facts to deal with your particularproblems. Experience, learning from mistakes andsuccesses, is the only way to develop the art ofmanagement.

13

ReferencesU.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service 101 South Main Street Temple, Texas 76501

“Building a Pond.” Farmers Bulletin No. 2256.1973. 13 pp.

“Catfish Farming.” Farmers Bulletin No. 2260.1981. 29 pp.

“Ponds: Planning, Design, Construction.”Agricultural Handbook No. 590. 1982.51 pp.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department4200 Smith School RoadAustin, Texas 78744

Forshage, Allen A., and Kenneth R. Moore.“Fish Habitat Improvement in Reservoirs.” PWDBooklet 30QO-12. Printed May 1980.

Inman, C. R. “Construction Hints andPreliminary Management Practices for NewPonds and Lakes.” PWD Booklet 3000-7.Printed March 1980. 10 pp.

Kemp, Robert J. “Freshwater Fishes of Texas.”1971. 40 pp.

Menn, C. T. “Rotenone: Its Use in FisheriesManagement.” PWD Brochure 3000-77.October1979.

Smith, Dwane Q., and John M. Mitchell. “TheEcology of Farm Pond Fertilization.” PWDBrochure 3000-24. Printed June 1978.

Texas Agricultural Extension ServiceDepartment of Wildlife and FisheriesNagle Hall, Texas A&M UniversityCollege Station, Texas 77843

Davis, James T., and Kim Jefferson. “AquaticPlants Field Identification Guide.” CD-ROM.

Higginbotham, Billy. “Threadfin ShadManagement and Culture.” Texas AgriculturalExtension Service publication L-2085. 2 pp.

Higginbotham, Billy. “Texas Farm PondManagement Calendar.” Prairie ViewCooperative Extension Program publication. 2 pp.

Higginbotham, Billy. “Forage Species: Range,Description, and Life History.” SouthernRegional Aquaculture Center publication SRAC140.

Higginbotham, Billy and Donny W. Steinbach.“Renovation of Farm Ponds.” Texas AgriculturalExtension Service publication L-2084. 2 pp.

Lock, Joe. “Pond Fertilization.” PublicationA0904. 2 pp.

Lock, Joe. “Management of Recreational FishPonds in Texas.” 1995. Texas AgriculturalExtension Service publication B-213. August1993. 18 pp.

Lock, Joe. “Largemouth Bass: Biology and LifeHistory.” Southern Regional Aquaculture Centerpublication SRAC 200.

Lock, Joe, and James Davis. “Liming Farm FishPonds in East Texas Publication.” TexasAgricultural Extension Service publication L-1864. January 1986. 2 pp.

Lock, Joe, and Don Steinbach. “Catfish in FarmPonds For Food and Recreation.” TexasAgricultural Extension Service publication B-1319. June 1992. 5 pp.

Masser, Michael P., and John W. Jensen.“Calculating Area and Volume of Ponds andTanks.” Southern Regional Aquaculture Centerpublication SRAC 103. August 1991. 7 pp.

Masser, Michael P., and John W. Jensen.“Calculating Treatments for Ponds and Tanks.”Southern Regional Aquaculture Center publica-tion SRAC 410. August 1991. 7 pp.

Steinbach, Donny W., and Richard Noble.“Largemouth Bass.” Texas AgriculturalExtension Service publication L-2083. 2 pp.

Steinbach, Donny W., and Billy Higginbotham.“Clearing Muddy Ponds.” Publication A0905. 1 p.

Wurts, William A., and Robert M. Durborow.“Interactions of pH, Carbon Dioxide, Alkalinity,and Hardness in Fish Ponds.” SouthernRegional Aquaculture Center publication SRAC464. December 1992. 4 pp.

Appendix

Assessing Population Size Structure A technical index commonly used to analyze

the size distribution of bass-bluegill populationsfrom catch records is Percentage Size Distribution(PSD). To determine the angling PSD for bass, thenumber of quality bass (12 inches and longer) is

14

15

Table A. Harvest Recommendations Based on Angling PSD Values. Catch Composition Angling PSD (%) Harvest Recommendations

Bass BluegillBass average 12” to 15”; bluegill 40-70 40-60 Balanced pond-release 12” to 15” bassrange 3” to 6” or larger

Bass average 12” to 15”: bluegill 20-60 less than 40 Bluegill reaching overcrowded condition-caught are smaller than 5” harvest more bluegill; release 12” to 15” bass

Most bass are 12” or larger; bluegill greater than less than 40 Bluegill overcrowded- harvest more bluegill;caught are smaller than 5” 70 release all bass

Bass are easy to catch. Most are less than 20 50-80 Bass reaching over-crowded condition-harvestsmaller than 12”; bluegill 3” to 6” more bass smaller than 12”; release 12” toor larger 15” bass and all bluegill

Bass are easy to catch. Most are less than 20 more than 80 Bass overcrowded. Harvest more bass smallersmaller than 12”; bluegill (6” plus) than 12”; release 12” to 15” bass and allabundant bluegill

Undesirable species Consider renovation

divided by the total number of bass and then mul-tiplied by 100. A balanced bass population shouldhave an angling PSD between 20 percent and 60percent.

Example: Catch records indicate that 100 basswere caught, 33 of which were 12 inches orlonger. The PSD would be:

33 (bass 12 inches and longer)/100(all bass) x 100 = 33%

A PSD (bass) of 33 percent means that, of all thebass caught, one-third were at least 12 incheslong.

For bluegill, the number of quality bluegill (6inches and longer) is divided by the total numberof bluegill and then multiplied by 100. A satisfac-tory bluegill angling PSD range is 50 percent to 80percent.

Example: Catch records indicate that 40 bluegillwere caught, 20 of which were 6 inches or longer.The PSD would be:

20 (bluegill 6 inches and longer)/40(all bluegill) x 100 = 50%

A PSD (bluegill) of 50 percent means that, of allbluegill caught, one-half were at least 6 incheslong.

To achieve balanced populations, you shouldstrive to maintain PSD values for both specieswithin these suggested ranges. Table A shows eval-uations based on angling PSD. The values that falloutside the suggested ranges may be indicate aneed for corrective management. Be sure to fishwith a variety of lures and baits, with your anglingefforts spread throughout the year.

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Educational programs of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, ageor national origin.Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of Congress of May 8, 1914, as amended, andJune 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. Zerle L. Carpenter, Director, Texas Agricultural Extension Service,The Texas A&M University System.

Editor: Elizabeth GregoryTypesetting and Page Design: Vera JohnsonTexas Agricultural Extension Service