My neighborhood has a small 2 acre pond that we fish at and catch and release. So far, only thing that we have caught are small bass, about 8-9 inches long and smaller, and plenty of them. No bluegill, catfish or crappie to be found in this little pond. I have also never seen any bait fish swimming around either, so not sure what these little bass are eating.

I would like to feed them something, but I am not going to try to hunt down minnows or shad or the like, but if bass would eat dog food, I would not hesitate to buy 50 pounds of the cheap stuff from wallyworld to give them to help them out. Thoughts?

Also, I have seen an otter in this little pond a couple of times this week. For some reason I did not think that otters would be living in the Ft. Worth area. I guess they can be anywhere.

Yeah, if they were feed trained they'd eat dog food. Adult bass may be kinda tough to train tho. Try to be consistent on times and the places you throw food out if you try it.

aggiegolfer03 said:

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Yeah, if they were feed trained they'd eat dog food. Adult bass may be kinda tough to train tho. Try to be consistent on times and the places you throw food out if you try it.

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My plan was to go several times a week and toss a good bit into the only area I have caught anything. I know catfish can sniff out food, but I have no idea if bass can too or if they are sight only predators. If there are any bait fish, they would benefit from the dog chow too, which would in turn help out the bass.

If,you're catching same size fish with nothing else it might need to be not catch and release

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, so not sure what these little bass are eating.

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Each other. Really though. Bass will eat other bass.

I use to know a small pond that was also full of 6-10in bass. Incredibly over populated. Started throwing out every fish we caught. Once we started catching less and less, we began bait fish stocking. Wasn't long the avg bass grew. Now it's a pretty nice little pond, grab a 3lb one every now and then.

BQ_90 said:

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If,you're catching same size fish with nothing else it might need to be not catch and release

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I treat it as a catch and release, but not sure what others who fish there do. So far I havent caught a bass big enough to legally keep. I rarely see anyone else there, so I think it gets fished very little. I am not opposed to thinning the herd, but it is not my pond so I am not sure if I want to cull fish from it.

The little pond needs some work around it, as far as weed eating and some other upkeep things, but it rubs me wrong to be the only one doing anything to it and then others benefit from my sweat.

It needs be stocked with baitfish and have lots of those little bass removed

BQ_90 said:

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If,you're catching same size fish with nothing else it might need to be not catch and release

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Correct. Take some fish out.

clarythedrill said:

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So far, only thing that we have caught are small bass, about 8-9 inches long and smaller, and plenty of them.

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Not naming names (AggieChemist), but some guys on this board would kill for a little fish hot spot like that.

STX Ag said:

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clarythedrill said:

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So far, only thing that we have caught are small bass, about 8-9 inches long and smaller, and plenty of them.

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Not naming names (AggieChemist), but some guys on this board would kill for a little fish hot spot like that.

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It is great fun to catch a little bass every two or three casts. I just wish they were a little bigger and there were other species to go for. I use ultralight gear with 4 lb test line, and these little buggers can put up a pretty impressive fight.

Probably are just way too many in there so there's not enough food. If you take some out I'm sure it will help a lot. Probably need to remove a lot of them.

Or if you have the time and wanted to have some huge fun, throw some adult bluegill in there and start feeding them. They'll get HUGE in a fed pond that is oversatured with bass once they get on feed.

I have caught mice in sticky traps and "released" them in my stock tank. They didn't get to swim for more than a few seconds before a bass grabbed them.

I've heard dog food can mess up a pond if you over feed... but that's just what I've heard.

Otters have been expanding their territory back to their historical grounds as have beaver. Those bass will eat the dog food if it floats and they are really hungry. If they have other things to hunt and eat, wild bass will hunt for food.