My buddy just built a house on a 30+ year old fishing pond in Virginia.  Within a year of living there the pond has produced (3) 10+lbs pigs.  

 

Problem #1 - The pond is stunted.  Other than those 3 massive bass, all fish caught are under 2 pounds or crappie. 

 

Problem #2 - The pond can't be harvested.  My buddy's Home Owner's Association (HOA) has a catch-and-release policy and members are strongly against changing the policy.  

 

Questions - 

 

How did you convince folks that killing a few fish is better than all fish starving?

 

Would you please share any articles or expertise we can use to arm my buddy for his next round with the HOA? 

Sounds like a good pond to fish.. I wouldn't mess with it..

Sounds like a good pond to fish.. I wouldn't mess with it..

Thanks for the feedback, GGLL4LIFE.  

 

It's a great pond to fish; especially after striking out at a larger body of water.  A weightless whacky will bring in a dozen 1 - 2 pounders within a couple hours.  

 

However, it would me nice to exceed the 2 pound mark when dialing in on a fish of that size.  Also, I'm sure we all hate to think of bass fighting amongst themselves for mere survival. 

 

Thanks again. 

The lake has been around for 30 yrs, I think its good. Besides I doubt the residents want what you are proposing. Unless they were all bass anglers then maybe they will understand. I also think your data does not support the claim that the fish are stunted. Just because you guys have caught several 2 lb fish. How big is this 30 yr pond? 5 acres, 10? 15? 

The lake has been around for 30 yrs, I think its good. Besides I doubt the residents want what you are proposing. Unless they were all bass anglers then maybe they will understand. I also think your data does not support the claim that the fish are stunted. Just because you guys have caught several 2 lb fish. How big is this 30 yr pond? 5 acres, 10? 15? 

You're definitely spot on, BassinLou.  The opposing residents aren't anglers at all.  My understanding is they simply oppose of anything that changes bi-laws.  

 

For the size of the pond ... I'm totally guessing it's around 7 acres (give or take 2 - 5). Again, I'm totally guessing.  

 

When I say we've consistantly caught a dozen or so fish over a few hrs, that's a group of us fishing 10+ individual times a month over more than a year.  

 

I'm not lying when I say all the fish are almost the same size - .5 - 1.5 lbs w/ occasional 2 pounder.  They almost seem like blue gill after awhile.   

 

Thanks again for your input. 

You're definitely spot on, BassinLou.  The opposing residents aren't anglers at all.  My understanding is they simply oppose of anything that changes bi-laws.  

 

I'm guessing when I say the pond is 10 (give or take 2 - 5).  

 

When I say we've caught several fish over a 2 hr period  ... That's fishing 10 - 15  times a week over a year time period.  Literally all the fish are almost the same size - .5 - 1.5 lbs w/ occasional 2 pounder. 

 

Thanks again. 

Unfortunately, like you mentioned earlier, the residents will not understand. The good news however, is you and your buddy have a lake with little to no lake pressure at all. Best of luck to you and welcome to BR. 

The only way you are going to change the homeowners associations position is to try to have someone from Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries present a program on pond management  to the entire  membership and follow the conservation officer's recommendations.

 

After hearing the presentation the membership can consider what to do regarding good pond management, if anything at all.

 

If VG&IF will not present a program on pond management then you will have to find a professional pond management company or call Virginia State University's fisheries department to find someone willing to meet with your association members.

 

Otherwise, no matter what you say or do the neighbors will stick to the catch and release position.

Attached -

 

1) Pic of buddy"s father-in-law w/ +10 pounder. 

 

2) One of the larger dozen or so fish you'll catch over 2 hrs or so.  All below 2 pounds.  

The only way you are going to change the homeowners associations position is to try to have someone from Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries present a program on pond management  to the entire  membership and follow the conservation officer's recommendations.

 

After hearing the presentation the membership can consider what to do regarding good pond management, if anything at all.

 

If VG&IF will not present a program on pond management then you will have to find a professional pond management company or call Virginia State University's fisheries department to find someone willing to meet with your association members.

 

Otherwise, no matter what you say or do the neighbors will stick to the catch and release position.

Thank you, Sam.  I'll definitely pass along the info.  Meanwhile please ping me when you're in the tidal potomac area.  All the best.  

Your buddy needs to join the board first and then make friends or a working relationship with them. It may tak hiring a survey to come out and get actual data which the board most likely would not throw surplus at if there were any available. With data though you would be able to figure out what really needs done and go from there. It could be argued at some point that an out of balance ecosystem would cost more in the long run. Most likely they will not change the bylaw as they dont want the other messes that could come with it, altering what they have now. However you could argue with data that somthing needs to be done and have that done as a service provided by you. That, or propose a one weekend a year non catch and release period for residents. Either way slow going process, and hoa's are notoriously a fickle bunch with at least a couple with more time than brains. That goes for all committees though as well that i have ever served on.