My one pond keeps getting clearer and clearer due to the dominance of macrophytes (sago pond weed is getting more profuse on top of the Chara) and vertually no algae bloom. Consequently I can see all the way to the bottom and snorkeling on a hot day is a blast looking af fish. (Deepest water is 11 feet.)

My question is the following: I have some areas the are too large to be spawning beds in the deepest water that are totally devoid of plant growth. Just bare bottom. Could this be the few grass carp I have in the pond? Everywhere else there is prolific growth of Chara on the bottom. It's almost like something in that area inhibits any plant growth.

I have areas on my farm that are devoid of plant growth because of clay, rocks or just poor soil. Is this not also possible on the pond bottom?

could it be a spring

you say the deepest part of yer pond.

in the deepest part of my pond it is barren as well, and i have always attributed this to lack of light penetration.

Dear Advice Columnist,

I recently saw the picture of a famous taxidermist's wheel barrow filled with chara.

I have almost no vegetation in my pond for school snacks. Two semi-retired grass carp keep the school grounds completely clean. The smaller fish only seem to eat high protein and high fat foods. These fish appear to be real happy, and relatively normal -- except they are seriously overweight.

Should I be concerned?

Weedless in West Virginia

Cecil,

On a more serious side, my pond is completely devoid of vegetation. My fish appear to be happy and healthy.

I've been around a lot of great fishing water that was completely devoid of weeds.

I'll get worried when my pond grows some weeds.

Ken

Oh I'm not worried. Just curious as to why. The previous explanations makes sense.


Catmandoo,

Does the the lack of macrophytes cause a prolific alage bloom or filamentous algae for you?

Cecil, IMO your nutrient load is being tied up by your chara and sago pond weed which is preventing an algea bloom. The weeds reaching the surface are also preventing the wind from stirring up sediment along the banks. It's hit a tipping point where a self feeding loop is occuring and the water gets clearer and weeds keep growing deeper and deeper in the pond. IMO the barren areas are likely spots that the GC have been grazing on. I see these in our pond and the barren spots come and go over several months, I also frequently spook pods of GC near these barren areas. I do agree, the barren areas often look like a very large spawning bed.

Cecil, Shorty has given you a good description of what is going on in your clear pond. I assume the pond is aerated thus the water near the bottom is close to surface temps. Grass carp will then readily work the bottom as feeding areas if weeds are present. GC often open up an area in a weed bed and then enlarge the opening and work it from the center outward.