I was visiting family at Green Lake in western Wisconsin over labor day weekend. We saw this huge paddlewheel machine working at a distance and figured it must somehow harvest weeds. It came across the lake and parked closer to me in a little channel off the main lake so I snapped some pictures. I wouldn't want to know the power it takes to run this or how much one of these boats cost! It appeared to have a big diesel generator running up on the deck. The paddlewheel provided propulsion although it moved very slowly (ineffective beating of the water to try to achieve forward motion).

Are they even effective at clearing weeds? I would imagine in most lakes the hopper under the seat would fill with weeds very quickly, and then how do you dump or dispose of the weeds?










Later the kids and I went to a neighboring 'farm pond' where the owner wanted the bluegill caught (and the perch thrown back) and was planning to help a friend restock his 'farm pond' that had winter killed. The fish were quite hungry, yet of very good size. The kids loved catching the big BG, pumpkinseed and the smallish perch in this shallow, weedy pond.

I noted an aerator running, the presence of some pond dye, no sign of the owner feeding the fish, yet they must have adequate forage as the fish were fat.

And guess what? They have aggressive and very fat green sunfish (GSF) there as well. I noted the very vivid yellow/gold coloring on the bottom fins of the fish that we see in some of the fish pictures seen on PB forum here from indiana and Illinois pond owners. Took a picture to show it here:

Decades ago the HOA of a 365 acre lake I went to every weekend would hire a guy and his folly machine to "crop the weeds". We always went spearing at night and I snorkeled often. The only difference I ever saw was lots of weeds floating after he made his runs for a week or so. I notice in the pics that what you said about wasted energy to operate is accurate. Also the amount of weeds going up the conveyer is minimal. I'm sure by the crews looks they are very enthusiastic about really doing a top notch job. My guess on disposal would be to dump in the lake somewhere.
However the fish story is encouraging. Think EVERYONE likes to see kids havin fun fishing. My grandbrats were out yesterday and the 10 yr old boy caught a 16" WE. First time any of em had seen a WE. I kept telling him to just lip grip it but he wouldn't. That GSF is certainly fat. Happen to measure it?

hey
Woah,such a good review.
My congratulations,I did not even know that you can find a similar fish there Green Lake.
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My weed eater of 2018

That is sure enough a GSF and a nice size one.