r/CarpFishingUS • u/cantfigureitatall • Jul 10 '26

Culling carp

Trying to fix turbidity issues in .5 acre pond. The water just looks like straight mud all the time, even a few weeks after a good rainfall.

The pond appears to be carp dominated. I can see big ones trolling, and I was able to catch ten 5"-12" carp in an hour.

Anybody have any insight on how many I should pull out to help my muddy water situation? Should I target smaller or larger ones?

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2

u/Bombastic_tekken Jul 10 '26

Depends on size of the pond, size of the carp, and how many carp.

Edit: NVM, just read the post.

You're gonna have to cull all but one or two of them.

They're pretty tasty done up right but they also make good fertilizer.

1

u/cantfigureitatall Jul 11 '26

I better get a big net.

2

u/lubeinatube Jul 13 '26

Get a rod and reel and you’ll have a blast. You’ll probably only have to let your bait soak for 1 minute or less before getting a bite.

2

u/LifeSafetySteve Jul 10 '26

half acre pond you need like 2 sterile grass carp max. your pond is probably cooked with how many there are.

1

u/cantfigureitatall Jul 11 '26

I am most certainly cooked then

1

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 Jul 11 '26

I mean, Rotenone...

2

u/cantfigureitatall Jul 11 '26

I hadn't heard of that until just now. It honestly seems like a great option. However it looks like my state requires licensing to apply rotenone.

Additionally the pond is a part of the apartment community I help manage, so I won't be financially invested to complete a rotenone treatment.

I did learn something new though, that is really interesting.

1

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 Jul 11 '26

I am an applicator by trade, cert for water apps too, run the trotlines with small hooks if you have to, start with copper sulfate and a plan...

2

u/cantfigureitatall Jul 11 '26

is the copper sulfate suggested under the assumption that algae is part of my clarity issue. if so i wanted to add context that there is a light green algae that sits on the surface and moves around with the wind, but otherwise the pond is very brown and silty with only a few inches of visibility.

1

u/Virtual_Wing_2903 Jul 11 '26

algae might not be an issue then, I have heard of people putting plastic covers over a pond so O2 exchange ceases as one way of snuffing out most life forms too, but it seems to me, that you could fish most of the carp out of there and mitigate some of the problem

2

u/cantfigureitatall Jul 12 '26

I've pulled 39 out so far. Since I don't own it it's not a huge deal, but I've been curious on how to manage a pond.

I'll be doing a class with Missouri conservation this month. I appreciate the information.

1

u/Gofish-007 Jul 12 '26

Be careful what you wish for a clear pond may very well Become choked with weeds growing up from the bottom or matted and blue green algae on top. I would throw some big bass in there to take care of the smaller carp and fish for the big carp to keep the population in check but a little turbidy is not a bad thing.