Happy to be here, full of questions - 02/04/20 05:15 AM
Hi everyone, and thanks for making PB a great forum for learning about ponds.
I just got over here with some burning questions after watching an hour of Bob's youtube's.
I have the privilege of returning to a farm pond (2 acres approx) where I caught my first big fish, where I first brought my children to catch their first real eating sized bream, and now... the fish are basically gone. It's time to give this pond some attention. I threw out some fish feed at 5:30pm today in three places. No hits.
I'm in North Georgia in the foothills at 1500'. Pond is fed by a spring that starts 100 yds up the drainage (59deg F on this fine February day). A second spring is in the pond. They say Grandaddy had the dam built to make the pond 12' deep--35 years or so ago. There's a working pipe stand. Water temp was 48deg and at the outlet 47.
1) The upper 10% is hugely silted in. It's because the 100yd run from the spring was a major cattle crossing for 50 years or more. I'm stopping that with streambank restoration, trees, rocks, and keeping out cows.
2) I'd love to stock a few trout in the pond--Granddaddy did but none were ever caught. Maybe the bass ate em, maybe they died off. Channel catfish likely never spawned, so they're gone. Used to be plenty of big bass, and fabulous easy bream. I am not married to the idea of trout, but I'd like to approach the pond as if it could hold trout. At least as a starting goal.
3) What trees can I plant to reduce exposure of water to sun? There's maple, birch, lots of american holly and eastern cedar, and scads of tulip magnolia. Some willow. What is desirable for planting along the eastern long shore to reduce warming? Western side is shaded by heavy brush, privet, and large mature white oaks.
4) This project is part of a larger plan to find better balance between pasture / grazing management and some delicate watersheds. Our soil here is an incredibly water-resistant clay. It's amazing how resilient it is to cattle even in prolonged wet weather. Cattle have never been in pond.
So much knowledge and wisdom here, I'm eager to hear from you. To new folks, howdy, and thanks for being brave!
WaysandMeans
I just got over here with some burning questions after watching an hour of Bob's youtube's.
I have the privilege of returning to a farm pond (2 acres approx) where I caught my first big fish, where I first brought my children to catch their first real eating sized bream, and now... the fish are basically gone. It's time to give this pond some attention. I threw out some fish feed at 5:30pm today in three places. No hits.
I'm in North Georgia in the foothills at 1500'. Pond is fed by a spring that starts 100 yds up the drainage (59deg F on this fine February day). A second spring is in the pond. They say Grandaddy had the dam built to make the pond 12' deep--35 years or so ago. There's a working pipe stand. Water temp was 48deg and at the outlet 47.
1) The upper 10% is hugely silted in. It's because the 100yd run from the spring was a major cattle crossing for 50 years or more. I'm stopping that with streambank restoration, trees, rocks, and keeping out cows.
2) I'd love to stock a few trout in the pond--Granddaddy did but none were ever caught. Maybe the bass ate em, maybe they died off. Channel catfish likely never spawned, so they're gone. Used to be plenty of big bass, and fabulous easy bream. I am not married to the idea of trout, but I'd like to approach the pond as if it could hold trout. At least as a starting goal.
3) What trees can I plant to reduce exposure of water to sun? There's maple, birch, lots of american holly and eastern cedar, and scads of tulip magnolia. Some willow. What is desirable for planting along the eastern long shore to reduce warming? Western side is shaded by heavy brush, privet, and large mature white oaks.
4) This project is part of a larger plan to find better balance between pasture / grazing management and some delicate watersheds. Our soil here is an incredibly water-resistant clay. It's amazing how resilient it is to cattle even in prolonged wet weather. Cattle have never been in pond.
So much knowledge and wisdom here, I'm eager to hear from you. To new folks, howdy, and thanks for being brave!
WaysandMeans