Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Seining

I had a fish kill a couple weeks ago and with the low water I think it is time to start over. However, I don't want to use rotone to kill off fish. I want to seine and pull out what I don't want.

I have some questions about seining. I have never ran a seine before and I think I am looking at this way wrong. I know you can never get 100% of the fish in the pond by seining.

Right now my pond is about 130' x 370', max depth around 3', all due to this drought we're in. Am I crazy thinking I will need a 130' seine net to do what I want? Or should I get a smaller one and just run it several times? What's the best method here? Thanks

If you wanted to cover the entire pond you'd need a net longer than 130 feet - about 20 percent longer -- as your seine is going to bow as you pull it.

Personally I wouldn't buy a 160 foot seine for a one shot deal.

You can use a smaller seine with multiple runs and still catch a pretty decent % of fish from your pond in those conditions. Any bottom obstrctions? They could really hamper your efforts. With no bottow obstrctions and a 50'x4' seine run 10 times, I bet you could remove in excess of 75% of the fish in the pond if done correctly. Working a large seine takes some experience to do right...

Having done my share of seining that doesn't sound like much fun, and I've found fish are adept at finding openings around incomplete seines.

I've also found it's quite it art to successfully seine and it takes some practice.

I know you don't want to use rotenoe; but given the amount of water you have, the size seine required, and everything else... If it were mine, I'd be extremely tempted to use rotenoe to kill off all fish, take advantage of this hot dry weather to deepen areas, reduce siltation, place structure, and etc. Maybe even sow the entire pond with grass or rice seed or something. Then start over with a clean slate where you can add fathead minnows and etc.

If you think you have some nice fish left in the pond, you can try catching them out with lures / bait or someone around might have a seine they'd seine it for shares / fun / just to help. Might try asking around at local tackle shops.

Given how dry it is... You might also be able to rent a 2" or larger water pump and pump a lot of that water out over the dam or someplace to help keep grass, trees, etc. alive and also lower the water level to the point where less costly to rotenoe or seine with cheap minnow seine.

Pulling a seine in mucky soft bottoms can be really challenging. The best seines have mudlines to improve catch rates in mud bottom silty ponds.

Well, I don't think I can get enough willing participants to try and pull a 200' seine through the pond. As far as I know, the bottom is fairly clear from snags. What snags there were I have drug out of the water already. Most of the bottom is hard, there are some muddy spots in the shallower end but not too bad. I think I may try the 50' seine. I think I have a lot of good forage already established that survived the fish kill and still don't want to kill the rest off.

I would love to dig a couple "holes" in the pond to make it a litter deeper in spots. However, I am worried of having someone come in and hit a sand bar or void that will create a leak in the pond. Also, we don't have a ton of money to drop into the pond. So I'm trying to stay as cost effective, ie most bang for the buck, as I can.

You may be surprised to know that one can seine all by one's self. I know of two fish farmers that do it and I've done it myself. It takes longer but it can be done. It also makes you slow down which many people don't do and loose fish by pulling the net up off the bottom.

Cecil, how big was that seine that you and I used on your front pond?

I use a surf rod beach anchor, placing one seine pole into it, sink the anchor at the water's edge, then walk directly out into the water from it til the seine is almost fully stretched out and then make a pass with the seine like a hinge bringing the seine back to shore. I have used this method with seines up to 50'x4'.

200 by 8 feet deep.

Is your concern population balance or types of fish ? You may be able to avoid a complete renovation by management.

I would say that would be my main concern for the most part. I want to seine as many fish as I can for a few reasons:

1. Evaluate what I have left after the fish kill and create a new stocking plan based off those findings
2. Remove all unwanted fish (BH, GSF, WCP, etc)
3. Determine what forage is in the pond

After I seine, I plan on setting some fish structures throughout the pond. Followed by a bottom diffuser aerator system (RC51 system). Then start a stocking plan. I do plan on feeding and doing what it takes to manage the populations as best as possible.

You can do 1 and 3 without renovation by a seine survey and a little fishing (small hook and light line).

I have fished for hours only to catch BH and GSF. And my traps only have GSF YOY, BH and one 2.5" WCP since the fish kill. I would like to clear most BH, GSF and WCP out that I can before stocking again.

Then your best bet IMO is to siphon/pump or otherwise drain the pond and add hydrated lime to any remaining water to kill the fish left. Wait for it to refill and then restock.

For a big seine like that you will spend $500 or more and still may well leave unwanted fish in the pond.

I think I am going to try CJ's method and do the multiple runs with a 50' seine. I think I have a great forage base with minnows, shiners, crayfish, etc. I don't want to kill everything off. I would just like to drastically cut down the numbers of unwateed species and evaluate if there are any CC YOY from this year, or possible any CC that survived the kill.

Just my 2 cents, but trying to remove enough BH and GSF by seining is nearly pointless. Trying to get it done with a short seine would be like trying to pull weeds by hand in an overgrown pond. Great exercise but does not accomplish much. Your only real option if you have an abundance those fish would be to dry it out or use rotenone or hydrated lime as posted earlier. You would be better off sampling with a minnow seine to see what you have and restocking with bigger fish as is; if killing the fish is out.

-HH

Ditto plus 2.

Your problems with unwanted species will only come back if you don't start from scratch!

Me too. + 3.

Well, I think you guys have talked me out of trying to seine it. Sounds like I am better off spending the money for the seine elsewhere. My wife and I are still against killing what is left though. Think we will just keep trapping and fishing out what we don't want.

Have noticed a bunch of tadpoles around the edge lately. Also, I've seen 1000's of minnows or YOY of something feeding on small insects on the top of the water lately. Have some minnow traps on the way to find out what type they are.

Thanks for all your advice!

Keep in mind that by stocking (and mgt.) you can effect what happes.

If you have access to a back-hoe, dig a hole at the edge of your deep end. Then pump out as much water as you can. Most of your fish will end up in the hole you dug.Then use a long-handled net to take them out of the hole you dug. What fish you can't get out, herons and raccons will take care of them.