8 Responses to “What is the best way to get rid of small largemouth bass? My buddy’s lake is overcrowded with small ones.”

1. GoldenFeather on September 25th, 2008 5:00 am

   Yes! The lake is over populated and thus the fish are not having a chance to grow. But be careful and don’t take to many out.
   Also if the bass are that over populated what about other spices, blue gill, shell crackers, etc.
   More than likely the lake has not been managed properly and now there is a over population of small fish. This can not nor will not be corrected until the proper balance is achieved.
   Also might consider telling him to call your states Fish and Game department, most states will help people manage their ponds/lake for free. They could come out and shock the lake getting a real good idea of what needs to be done to bring the lake back into balance.
   Good Luck.

2. hays101 on September 28th, 2008 2:20 am

   Yea, Goldenfeather just hit it on the head. I can’t add too much to that one. Those ole green fish are ferocious predators but won’t do to well in that type of situation. It will take a few years but eventually that pond will catch up or turn over. Most likely turn over due to oxygen levels. Do your buddy a favor and you guys catch em and move em somewhere else. BUT NOT SO MANY. Another reference to GoldenFeather, check with your local wildlife authority and if they don’t help, you should send a letter to your state rep that the wardens are sh*&^%

3. lymanspond on September 29th, 2008 10:56 pm

   there is a term they use to call the fish stunted,….it will happen in a body of water that does not have the fish removed

   keep and fillet up all the small (legal fish in your state) bass.

   Its not to often I endorse filleting up bass, but this would be the case.

   also consider adding another baitfish species(golden shiners) to the pond (check with you DEP first)

4. teddy bear jr on October 1st, 2008 12:25 am

   let them grow
   throw them back
   bass take years to get good size

5. fivebigfish on October 1st, 2008 6:26 am

   I would say that the lake is out of balance with that year, or size calss of bass. The problem that ylu then run into is that the competition is too great for the available forage and therefore the eco-system or food chain is stressed or out of balance. I would recommend catching and keeping anything 10 inches or below. A period of this type of management will impact and rectify your problem. Good luck.

6. Injun on October 3rd, 2008 4:51 pm

   All good answers but hold just a second before any drastic measures in culling out fish!.20 small bass in a 3 to 4 acre pond does not qualfy as stunted fish population.It could be the overharvest of larger age class fish or fish kill off of the larger bass.
   I would fish the lake hard to find bigger bass and if you cant catch any over the legal size limit I would then refer to the DNR and ask for their pond management booklet!

7. NJGuy on October 5th, 2008 7:23 am

   Stock a few 6 or 8 pounders in that lake and wait!

8. Aaron on October 6th, 2008 12:09 pm

   It is probly overpopulated and the bass are stunted. Two years ago, my neighbor had two ponds that were way overpopulated and i took out the fish and put them in my empty pond. If i remember right, i took about 10 frome each. These ponds werent any bigger than half a football field and this summer, i caught a 3 lber out of one of them. It really helped to take some out.

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