Subdivision Pond - Shad Lot's Of Them

[stlfisher]

I have a 2 acre pond in our subdivision that at first glance looks like very fishy...and it ought to fish better than it does. It is clear, deep with plenty of cover (maybe too much at times) and a nice variety of habitat. If I could design one myself it would look similar.

My issue is the fish population seems way out of balance due to the C/R regulations. There are plenty of small bass, but they rarely are larger than 12 inches. There are some really nice bluegill, and a boat load of shad some up to 10 inches. I mostly fly fish it for the small bass and bluegill, but I catch just as many shad as I do the other two species. It seem pretty obvious that the Shad are the problem as some of them are quite large. I am worried the Shad are going to wipe the other species. The bass don't seem to get big enough to take advantage of them as a good source.

Any thoughts on removing some the Shad or it is a lost cause?

[fishinwrench]

Don't think I've ever seen shad in a smallish pond. Post a pic of one of the next ones you catch.

[mic]

Sneak in some big flat heads

[jpb2187]

I would assume they are probably Gizzard Shad? I'm not sure if they would compete with the bass for food, but I guess they would with panfish. I would think that if there is a plentiful supply of shad that there should be some big mommas in there.

In one of the public ponds in St. Louis there are some big ole gizzard shad. I hooked one on a crankbait accidentally. The bass I do catch out of there seem like they are eating rather plentifully, and they seem to like the bigger bulkier lures rather than smaller finesse baits even though it's pretty heavily pressured. Have you tried fishing for the bass with some bigger lures? Thats what I would be trying out, maybe just the smaller ones are interested in the flies.

[sms_alum]

Susan park has a fairly small lake loaded with shad. Is that the lake you are referring to jpb2187?

[stlfisher]

I will post pick, but. I am 100% sure they are gizzard shad. I was shocked the first time I started catching them. I actually fished regular gear for bass at first, but it produced only small bass so I changed to fly gear figuring there would be nice bluegill, which is true. What surpised me was for every 20 fish I catch even on fly gear is evenly distributed among the 3. That seems like a lot of shad. I too thought there has to be some big bass, but in 2 years I haven't seen or heard of anyone catching any. Maybe someone dumped some in thinking it will help bass growth...still seems like it should fish better.

[stlfisher]

Oh and mic there are some decent channel cats

[jdmidwest]

Does it get backwash out of the Mississippi? Maybe bighead carp. I have seen that happen.

[stlfisher]

No it is not near any other body of water that could contaminate it. They had to have been purposefully. Stocked. The water seems to clear for carp or catfish ( although there a few channels). It is mostly bluegill, a few green sunfish, shad, and bass pond, with one mammoth beaver.

[Hog Wally]

I stock gizzard shad in my lakes. They make for a never ending supply of food. The bass grow huge. Try 6" to 8" swim baits I put flatheads and blues all over 30 lbs to help combat the crappie I never worry about the shad. I just stocked my brand new lake with them. Along with crappie walleye and hybrid whites.