How many to keep?

[Guest]

I found a 15-20 acre pond close to home (owatonna). I went there one day and found I could catch 9" crappies all day and figured the pond is stunted, so I took a limit of those home, think since they were stunted, I would only be helping the pond. I did the same the next day, but arround 10 crappies on the stringer, a DNR officer stopped me, checking licenses, etc. I was legal and we talked about the pond a little bit, and he said right after ice up last spring, some guys were catching 14inchers right off this drop-off. So there should be bigger crappies in the pond, should I stop keeping the 9inchers, and concentrate on bigger crappies? This pond gets very little pressure, how much fish would keep from it, one limit per week of crappies/sunfish? Like I said before, I can catch 9" crappies all day (all full of spawn right now), and every sunny I've caught is 6" max. Do you believe the pond is stunted or I'm in the wrong area?
Thanks
MJB

[Guest]

There are a lot of unanswered questions you would need to know before you will be able to determine whether or not the fish are stunted. If there are Bass and Pike in the lake with Crappies reaching 14 inches I would guess it is a healthy lake. Just take a few fish for a meal once in a while and all should be fine.

[Beerbatter]

You better let a pro go in and figure it out. I'll need the exact GPS location and I'll let you know. Haha

[Guest]

Your fishing or harvest alone will do nothing to change the crappie population in that little lake/pond. Obviously the fish have the ability to grow bigger then the ones you are catching. Most likely you are cathing a lot of crappies that size because they had a really good spawn and thus a stong year class. Crappies are a boom or bust fish and one year class can really dominate a lake. The fish you harvest are not going to impact the overall fish population or structure in that lake. I would advise to keep what you can eat and enjoy the great fishing! You may want to keep that one under you hat, sounds like a gem.ScottS

[Guest]

I have seen a couple other people out there. One guy said that he's had a couple 5.5-6IB bass out there. I think he said 23". I believe it too because I've seen some monsters. But I don't fish bass, might have to just for a little fun. Theres no pike in it though. DNR said that he believed they quit stocking it, is that a mistake? I've seen tons of 3" perch (caught). I've also seen some very nice 12"+ suckers that I might have to go out and catch for a quick strike rig for muskies...anybody have any tips on that? Its a Wildlife Management area thats very nice, except people go out there and throw trash, theres even a couch in the pond...but it makes some nice crappie structure. The other morning I saw a doe and her fawn come to the waters edge and drink. During season, you can even hunt there. Saturday morning, the limit I took home was all still full of spawn, do you think they've spawned yet? Hey beer, I wouldn't mind taking a fisherman or two out there just so they can be trusted w/ keeping it a secret.

Thanks,
MJB

[Guest]

MJB, Crappies with spawn in is not uncommon. Even though most of the crappies have spawned in your area, there will still be crappies spawning for the next couple weeks. It can really get prolonged in spring fed lakes, which I would imagine that one is. As for the lack of Northern, that is not a problem, bass are excellent predators and actually do a better job of keeping panfish populations in check. I would be willing to bet that there are some dandy bass in that lake. harvesting the bass would do more to hurt the lake then harvesting panfish.

I do a lot of duck hunting down in your area and I am pretty familiar with that area. But mainly the area between Owatonna and Waseca. I don't know where the pond you are talking about is so it must not be in that area. Sounds like fun, to bad people feel the need to dump dump in the lake. But, like you said, a couch isn't the worst thing, pretty nice cover!!ScottS