What is the best way to tell if the bass in my pond are overstocked or just young bass. I just move to the pond and the pass ow

[Ogleby50]

What is the best way to tell if the bass in my pond are overstocked or just young bass. I just move to the pond and the pass owner has passed away. I don't know what to look for on the small bass.

[teufelhunden]

The thing I have noticed is that all of the fish will be about the same size, and their heads will be larger than normal. Keep the first 5 fish you catch, weigh and measure each one if they are very similar chances are you are over stocked.

[Beekeeper]

Ogleby50,

A colleague of mine has put together a very useful web site for pond management concerns. Check out the link below. I have found the relative weight calculation method to be very useful. It is also fun because you get to catch the bass!

http://www.ugaextension.com/habersham/anr/PondManagement.html

[Charley]

Teufelhunden got it right on that the fish may have a large head and stunted body if they are over stocked.

[rezavoirdog]

Throw in a pair of Northern Pike at least 18-24 inches long, and you'll have bigger bass...

[ETangler]

My local game agency has a website with great info about pond fish. Maybe check out your local fisheries agency.

[codymeyer11]

I have a pond also, and it is not about overstocking the bass, the levels of the bait fish and bass will even out in time, the size of the pond and cover will have the most to do with the bass size, try planting lily pads or dropping a small tree in the pond

[jamesti]

most bass will grow to a size according to the size of their environment and food availability.

[rudyglove27]

Agree with Beekeeper!