Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - Plugged Overflow Pipe

My 2 acre pond was built in 1938, and over the years various sticks & branches have been sucked into the 10" metal overflow pipe and are now stuck about 16' down in the 90 degree elbow.
I have tried poking at it with a long pole, but not having any luck in unplugging it. Water level has risen and is now running over the bank. Any idea's on how I can get these sticks out and unplug the pipe? What kind of tool can I lower down to grab and pull the sticks out? Love my pond, but worried about the water running over the dirt berm.

Would a grapple/hook on the end of a rope work? Let it carry down to the clog from above and hopefully "catch" some debris that can then be pulled up and loosened. Alternatively, can you get to it from below? Or attach a hook/claw on your pole and work it from above?

A word of caution, don't underestimate the strength of the "suck" if the clog suddenly breaks free. Make sure you are in no danger of being sucked into the pipe. I have a neighbor that had a kids basketball get in his drain pipe once and he was battling it from above and finally cleared the obstruction and was amazed at the hydraulic power as that clog was freed.

Arborists use manual pole saws. Some telescope to 21' or 22'. Silky Hayate, Silky Hayauchi.
We also use Jameson 6' fibreglas poles that snap together. 3 sections of a Jameson with the pruning blade and hook on the end could do it for you. Or the Silky saws.

Maybe you would have luck contacting a tree service company and asking for help. We rescue cats, kites, drones from trees. I'd certainly come out to help a pond owner with a plugged pipe.[align:right][/align]