Pulling the Trigger on Property with Strip Pits

[BilletHead]

5 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

My experience after watching the MDC takeover management of at least a dozen very good lakes around the STL area is you will have a lake FILLED with 11-13 inch bass and very small bluegill.  
But it should be noted this happened at the same time they publicized them on the internet.    I’ve been thinking of selling my pond prowler because they aren’t worth fishing anymore.  
I’d be very interested in following along as you progress.   

                This is caused by poor management period.  Mostly by the fishing public. MDC has slot limits on some of these lakes. Observe this and you can get your waters back up to par. Most all catch and keep if they can take all the bigger fish. Those small fish should be kept as well.  Eat those small bass.  Catch all those small bluegills you are allowed. They are not game fish so if nothing else pitch them at the end of the day. If that is all you have its way out of balance. Same for private ponds and these are worse. small bluegill and bass will spawn. Each year will be worse and worse. Crappie in small waters is even worse. If you don't do your part don't complain. If you can't kill a fish, it is your fault. It is like a healthy deer herd. There is a carrying capacity. Fish need removed in all year classes. I have access to a private lake I have not got to fish yet. To get permission to fish there you are required to take a bucket and put every small bass and bluegill in it and take them away. Anything big you are asked to release if they will live to be caught again by you or someone else.       

       If you don't like to eat fish because they taste fishy which is what they are supposed to taste like at least clean them for someone else.  none of this is the fault of MDC it's the fisherman's fault for poor management. It can be very hard to explain this to pond owners when their ponds become stunted. They think those fish will continue to grow. NOPE!

[ColdWaterFshr]

We had a nice crappie fry the last time we were out there.  And definitely need to do that with the bass.  Inviting an MDC biologist to give it an analysis just opens it up to public fishing  - is that right?  Don't want that.

[FishnDave]

No, that isn't right.  A fisheries biologist visit is a consultation.  Doesn't make your property public.  If you take his recommendations and purchase whatever fish for stocking he recommends, that still doesn't make your property public.  
 

If the MDC offers to stock the lake for free, in exchange for allowing public access, that is different, and it should be clear that is the intent.

[ColdWaterFshr]

4 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

No, that isn't right.  A fisheries biologist visit is a consultation.  Doesn't make your property public.  If you take his recommendations and purchase whatever fish for stocking he recommends, that still doesn't make your property public.  
 

If the MDC offers to stock the lake for free, in exchange for allowing public access, that is different, and it should be clear that is the intent.

Thanks FishnDave.  Who would I contact at MDC?  Ask to speak to a fisheries biologist that covers that area?

[Quillback]

It is tough enough to manage a 20 gallon aquarium, I wish the OP the best of luck and have fun with it!

[fishinwrench]

43 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

My experience after watching the MDC takeover management of at least a dozen very good lakes around the STL area is you will have a lake FILLED with 11-13 inch bass and very small bluegill.  
But it should be noted this happened at the same time they publicized them on the internet.    I’ve been thinking of selling my pond prowler because they aren’t worth fishing anymore.  
I’d be very interested in following along as you progress.   

If MDC doesn't put a restriction on their lakes that are big enough to put a boat in....the livescopers are going to hurt them bad. 

[Ryan Miloshewski]

52 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

My experience after watching the MDC takeover management of at least a dozen very good lakes around the STL area is you will have a lake FILLED with 11-13 inch bass and very small bluegill.  
But it should be noted this happened at the same time they publicized them on the internet.    I’ve been thinking of selling my pond prowler because they aren’t worth fishing anymore.  
I’d be very interested in following along as you progress.   

Busch used to be the absolute best. Grew up fishing it, and caught some really big bass and crappie out of those lakes. Last time I went out there I was disappointed. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

35 minutes ago, Ryan Miloshewski said:

Busch used to be the absolute best. Grew up fishing it, and caught some really big bass and crappie out of those lakes. Last time I went out there I was disappointed. 

Exactly!!!   

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

                This is caused by poor management period.  Mostly by the fishing public. MDC has slot limits on some of these lakes. Observe this and you can get your waters back up to par. Most all catch and keep if they can take all the bigger fish. Those small fish should be kept as well.  Eat those small bass.  Catch all those small bluegills you are allowed. They are not game fish so if nothing else pitch them at the end of the day. If that is all you have its way out of balance. Same for private ponds and these are worse. small bluegill and bass will spawn. Each year will be worse and worse. Crappie in small waters is even worse. If you don't do your part don't complain. If you can't kill a fish, it is your fault. It is like a healthy deer herd. There is a carrying capacity. Fish need removed in all year classes. I have access to a private lake I have not got to fish yet. To get permission to fish there you are required to take a bucket and put every small bass and bluegill in it and take them away. Anything big you are asked to release if they will live to be caught again by you or someone else.       

       If you don't like to eat fish because they taste fishy which is what they are supposed to taste like at least clean them for someone else.  none of this is the fault of MDC it's the fisherman's fault for poor management. It can be very hard to explain this to pond owners when their ponds become stunted. They think those fish will continue to grow. NOPE!

I understand that.  That’s why I put the disclaimer about them being “advertised”     Those slot limits are horrible for a public ~30 acre lake.  

[Dutch]

57 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

No, that isn't right.  A fisheries biologist visit is a consultation.  Doesn't make your property public.  If you take his recommendations and purchase whatever fish for stocking he recommends, that still doesn't make your property public.  
 

If the MDC offers to stock the lake for free, in exchange for allowing public access, that is different, and it should be clear that is the intent.

That is the exact information I got when I contacted them about stocking some of our ponds,  they do it public, we do it private.