Electrofishing survey at Sugarhill Outdoors pond

Electrofishing surveys allow biologists a faster way to catch fish. The electricity does not harm them because of a speciality shocking box regulates the current (Blue box in front of the driver) quickly capturing and returning the fish is important to the fishes overall health and to the clients budget.
All the fish looked good today but sometimes it’s what you don’t see that helps you make the proper management decisions. This survey showed too few bluegill in the 3-4 inch class. This is an indicator they are being too heavily hunted by bass. We don’t want gaps in the forage base because without 3-4 inch bluegill bass can’t grow from 1 pound to 2 pounds. We are going to harvest 30 bass in the pound size class to reduce hunting pressure and allow that portion of the bluegill population to rebound. This pond is only 2 years old and our bass are already getting a bit over abundant. This is very common

[@Steve-em4tb]

I wish we had shellcrackers here in the Rideau River in Ontario. Those invasive zebra mussels are going outta control, Rideau Canal locks are covered with them and we don't have sheepshead (gaspergoo?) in our area to control them.

[@aquaticbiologist6516]

That’s a bad problem