Research Highlights - Farm Pond Management

Aquaculture/Fisheries Center Research Highlights

Farm Pond Management

Farm Pond Management
Wes Neal and Adam Starks

Many complaints about poor fishing in small impoundments stem from crowded or stunted sunfish. These situations arise because of limited predatory control due to low predator abundance, or excessive vegetative cover which leads to prey stockpiling. Also, poor fishing can result from competition of game fish with undesirable fish such as wild sunfish, shiners, bullheads, and crappies that have been introduced to the pond. Often, the best solution has been to completely eradicate the pond fish community and restock the pond. However, recent finding have suggested that sunfish overcrowding and competition may be correctable using hybrid striped bass, eliminating the need for complete pond reclamation in some cases. We are evaluating the efficacy of hybrid striped bass predation as a corrective management tool on stunted prey fish populations in Arkansas. Our goal is to examine hybrid striped bass predatory and competitive effects on established fish communities. Our approach is assess community characteristics during the summer prior to introduction of hybrid striped bass and monitor responses over the following two years.