Big Bass

The largemouth bass is often the most popular fish to catch in farm ponds, and many angler prefer to catch large bass. In order for the “Big Bass” plan to be successful, it is critical to follow the water quality, fertilization, and aquatic weed management programs that are addressed in detail in “MP-360 Farm Pond Management for Recreational Fishing.” Fertile ponds produce 2 to 3 times more fish per acre than infertile waters, and with proper management the additional pounds of fish production can be channeled into growing bigger bass.

A key to producing big bass is to provide them with an ample food supply. In the traditional bass/bluegill pond, the bluegill are the primary food source for the bass. In the “Big Bass” strategy, additional fish species are stocked to provide more food to support more pounds of bass per acre. This option is best suited for new or renovated ponds greater than 1 acre in size. Ponds with existing fish populations can be managed for big bass but the results will be less certain.

The big bass option starts out with a traditional bass/bluegill stocking (All-Purpose Option). Then one or more of the additional fish species listed below are added.

Fathead minnows: These are small slow-swimming minnows and are excellent food for bass. Stock 2 to 3 pounds of fathead minnows per acre during the initial fall bluegill and redear stocking. These fish will be consumed by the spring-stocked largemouth bass during the first summer and are usually eliminated from the pond within a year. Fathead minnow reproduction will not be able to sustain the population and yearly stocking might be helpful.

Golden shiners: Stock 2 to 3 pounds per acre of golden shiners. Golden shiners reproduce in farm ponds and provide excellent bass forage. However, they are egg eaters and may reduce the reproduction of newly-stocked game fish.. For this reason they should not be stocked in new ponds during the first year.

Tilapia: These are exotic African fish that produce a lot of young and are even good to eat. Tilapia feed directly on plankton (microscopic plants and animals) and will reproduce every four to eight weeks through the summer. Some of the fish may get large enough to catch. The most important thing about tilapia is that they are a tropical fish and cannot survive water temperatures below 55 F . If tilapia are selected, stock 10-20 large fish (5 inches or more) or 200, 3 to 5 inch fish per acre every spring. Be prepared to see some dead tilapia in the winter when temperatures get low. However, they will get sluggish before it gets cold enough to kill them and the larger fish can be scooped out and eaten. Small and medium fish will end up on the pond bank but, since the tilapia die during the coldest part of the winter, most pond owners will probably not even visit their ponds to witness this event.

Threadfin Shad: These are excellent forage fish, but like the tilapia they are cold sensitive. In many parts of Arkansas, it will be difficult to grow enough of these fish to have an impact on bass populations. It is also important not to accidentally stock the larger gizzard shad (below) in your pond.

Gizzard Shad: Avoid stocking gizzard shad in farm ponds. They tend to become too big for bass to eat, then overpopulate and compete with other fish for oxygen and nutrients.

In addition to proper stocking, the production of large bass is dependent on removing the correct number and size of bass and bluegills when you go fishing. During the first three years after stocking all bass should be released back to the pond so that they can grow to large sizes and reproduce. It is important to allow the initial stocking of bass to spawn and establish the bass population before harvesting takes place. After the third year catch and remove 10 to 15 pounds of bass per acre each year that are less than 12 inches in length. Removal of these small bass helps reduce competition and allows for faster growth of the remaining fish. You should also remove 5 to 10 pounds of bass per acre that are between 12 and 15 inches in length each year. All fish over 15 inches should be released unless harvested as a trophy. Managing for big bass will result in larger but fewer bass and increase smaller bream numbers.