Hey guys, I'm new here, thanks for having me. I am in Alabama and just bought a house and property with a 3 acre pond. The pond has been here for about 40 years, best guess. It seems to have been well kept. I was told by the previous owner that it was fully stocked with bream, bass and crappie. I have caught some small bass, there are tons of small bluegill (have seen one big one caught) but I haven't seen the first sign of crappie. I have never specifically fished for crappie but have caught a few in the past. So I would consider myself a newb when it comes to crappie fishing. What are some sure ways to confirm there are crappie? It's hot btw, like 100° today and yesterday. This pond had 0 structure until recently, when I pushed some small fallen trees in. I plan to create and add structure soon. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated!
minnows,bettle spin, tiny rattle trap, etc
From what I've seen, the only way to get crappie and bass to thrive together (and maintain good size), is to stock the crappie and give them time to grow, and then stock the bass, or stock them all together as fingerlings. If you stock fingerling crappie in a pond with an established bass population, they're gonna be bass food.
Chances are the populations are way out of control and all of the fish are stunted.
A lot of guys worry about fishing out a pond, when usually the opposite is true. You have to keep the fishing pressure on them, and keep most that you catch.
Your options are to either start fishing like crazy and eat, relocate, or kill everything you catch, or dump in some Rotenone and start over.
As for catching them, chances are in the summer they will be near the deepest part of the pond, possibly suspended by the dam.
This guy got a awesome pond with huge crappies in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLiBkekaULI&t=184s
dump some slab crappie in it from the local area lakes that can reproduce would be an easy and cheap option . that said the crappie may be in it and thriving . The crappie in my avatar came from a pond a bit smaller than that and we had no idea crappie lived in that pond much less monster crappie until I caught one accidently on bluegill cut bait fishing for channel cat after 3 years of hitting that pond ….never say never
sum kawl me tha outlaw ketchn whales
Welcome from Odenville Al.
Live Simply, Love Generously, Care Deeply, Speak Kindly, and Trust in our Creator who Loves us
and yes WOW your first post ….WELOCOME to the forum , super nice place to visit for sure
sum kawl me tha outlaw ketchn whales
Danny, get a friend or neighbor that fishes often to come by and fish it for you to see what they catch. It sounds like what others
have posted that it is over stocked. The Game & Fish or you're local Agricultural Extension Service offer help and advise on pond
management also. Welcome aboard from Arkansas.
Tell'em I'll be there.