Tframe - IMO it would be good to add some brush to one whole end of the pond. Add brush so you can easily take or drag it out later when some weeds get established. Try using larger branches with butt ends anchored or just lying on shore and tops in the water. Branches can be trimmed so not so many limbs are sticking out of the water. Minnows will survive predation best in near shore shallow water areas; similar to natural habitats. Maybe try using mixed species of tree branches so some branches are finely divided and some more coarsely divided. My experience says best use of brush for cover is to initially use a lot of it placed close together to simulate habitat or cover provided by weed beds. Remember this is cover for minnows not predators. Adding brush pieces along one whole end is not too much in my opinion. You want to provide an abundance or even what looks like too much cover initially, so you definately achieve some minnow survival over winter so breeders are present for the next breeding season. If you are having to always add minnows then your cover is not adequate or you have too many predators; usually both. As you see lots of minnows reproducing and surviving each year then you can start gradually removing some branches as they decompose and beneficial weeds colonize as natural cover.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 12/27/10 10:24 AM.
