How to Make a Bass Pond
- 1). Install an aeration system that includes a bottom mounted air diffuser and a shoreline mounted air compressor. Once up and running the system will achieve a uniform oxygen threshold throughout the entire water column, from top to bottom, allowing your future bass population to survive and thrive anywhere in the pond without the risk of a costly fishkill.
- 2). Stock a forage base for your future bass population with 1,000 bluegill and redear sunfish per acre. The most common ration is 4 bluegill for every 1 redear sunfish and an additional stock of 30 pounds of fathead minnows per acre. The redear sunfish are highly beneficial to your pond in that they will help keep your snail population under control, although it is acceptable to stock 100 percent bluegill forage base.
- 3). After your forage fish have had one full year to establish a strong population, stock 100 young largemouth bass, less than one year old.
- 4). After four years of allowing your pond to develop on its own accord you must start removing the 'thinner' bass from the pond. They will be noticeably skinnier than the rest of the stock. The easiest, and most enjoyable, way to do this is the old fashioned way with a hook and line. By 'thinning' out the population you remove unnecessary competition to those bass that are on their way to becoming stronger, healthier and most importantly, bigger fish.
- 5). Stock another 1,000 forage fish as soon as you remove all skinny bass. Again, a 4:1 bluegill to redear sunfish ratio should be used.
- 6). Allow the pond to simply grow on its own. Periodically monitor the size of your bass and so long as they are growing 1.5 pounds per year you will achieve trophy size fish in roughly 10 years from the first stocking.
