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Joined: Aug 2007
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Ambassador Lunker
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CJ, the rainbows and browns have gained 2 to 3 inches, but the PS's in the backyard pond still haven't spawned. I have a friend nearby with a tiny springfed pond and their PS's haven't spawned yet either. Probably due to the cold summer.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
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The sunnies in our creek by the cabin just started their spawn... I watched spotfin shiners and bluntnose minnows go nuts eating the eggs out of their nests when I would catch a male from it until he was able to swim back and begin guarding it again. For the first time ever, there was a decent number of bluegills in the creek. I think they made up a good quarter of the sunfish we caught. I was amazed at how much our trout have grown. The browns have put on at least 3 inches and the rainbows at least 2. Not bad for not being fed pellets. Now the question is can they make it through the next 2 months without dying!
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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CJ, I guess your gonna have to buy Rainmans aeration invention for the sake of the trout.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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If they die, they die... For that kinda money I can buy more trout next spring! HAHA
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Aug 2007
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Hey guys, how about posting updated photo's of your man made islands, they are a real asset to a ponds biodiversity.( I'm not exactly sure what it means but it sounds good.) Here's my island in May. Here it is now.
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5
Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 7,615 Likes: 5 |
I like it, it really filled in nicely!
JHAP ~~~~~~~~~~ "My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives." ...Hedley Lamarr (that's Hedley not Hedy)
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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The cold weather has finished off the plants. The natural Islands are starting to sink.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,151 Likes: 491 |
Do you know if the plants on your floating island when froze into the ice will regrow in spring or will you have to replant the island in spring?. When your natural floating islands sink they may get protected under the ice by the 39F water near the bottom?.
Last edited by Bill Cody; 10/30/09 08:40 PM.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
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Ambassador Lunker
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Bill the little island has an Iris, Calla Lily, and 2 different kinds of Canna's. According to info that came with the plants the hardiest was the Iris to zone 5, I'm in zone 3 so they're probably history, but the grasses I transplanted to it should survive if the ice doesn't destroy the island.
I've measured the height of the natural islands from summer to winter and they only sink about 20 inches. I planted pickerel weed on them but the cattails, grasses and other plants were put there by nature and survive well. As you said the sinking probably helps protect the roots.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Hall of Fame Lunker
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Interesting how your natural island floats and sinks with the seasons... You definitely gotta plant more monkey flowers next year!
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Joined: Aug 2007
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CJ I have a monkey flower in a pot on the porch, I'll see if it lives over the winter. I'm hoping the small island survives the winter, but it's just an experiment and I won't lose any sleep over it.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,094 Likes: 1 |
anyone ever thought of using Great Stuff foaming insulation to make an island? got my wheels to turning!!
Scott Hanners
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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I think it'd work, but you'd have to protect it somehow (i.e. paint it) from the UV rays.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Ebay; flotation foam link will eventually fail; search "flotation foam"
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Ambassador Lunker
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That Urethane foam would work great for an Island, you could make whatever shape you wanted out of cardboard, spray a release agent on it and seal it with tape then pour it in. You can also shape it by using a hot wire, that's the way some composite aircraft are built. I've used it to fill cavities in boats and it's amazing how much it expands. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxXgdInnpLw&feature=player_embedded
Last edited by adirondack pond; 01/12/10 08:50 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Ambassador Lunker
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After almost 5 months under ice and snow the small island is still there. It's pretty raggity looking but the ice didn't destroy it. You can see some green plant shoots on one end and I believe it is an Iris, which surprised me cause they show hardy to zone 5 and I'm in zone 3. The mallards seemed to enjoy picking around it for bugs.
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 563
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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It is awesome to see it again. Does everyone leave there island in during the winter? We are looking at getting one, or building one, this Spring. Don't they get torn up by the ice?
Brian Retired Coach Just another day in paradise!
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Joined: Aug 2007
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I would also like to hear from people who had their islands locked in ice and how well they fared.
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 108
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 108 |
I never thought of a man made island like that. Originaly my pond had an island (made when the pond was dug) It kept deteriorating over the years so I took it out when I deepend the pond last year. I used to have a pair of Canadian geese that nested there every year. One year they raised 8 young to maturity. They still come back every year looking for that island.
Last edited by Dantheman; 04/07/10 08:11 PM.
"If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there'd be a shortage of fishing poles." Doug Larson
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156 |
Her one I built. Will mawmaw built but I told here how and over seen the project
Just working my pond for Grandkids GET THE NET PAWPAW
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Looks good Rick, putting in artificial plants really gives it nice color, I should add some to my island so it looks better.
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 156 |
No matter what she say about it, It was my idea
Just working my pond for Grandkids GET THE NET PAWPAW
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,135
Ambassador Lunker
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Island starting to green up, the Iris on the left side and swamp grass survived the winter but I need to add plants, maybe some artificials to give it color.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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The island has greened up pretty good, the Iris and water Canna on the right side came back from last year, and naturally the swamp grass, also have a monkey flower plant in the middle but it's hard to see in the grass. Lots of minnows underneath with the garland providing cover in 8ft. of water. The Pickerel weed is growing well on the natural Islands, the one in front was planted 4 years ago as a scrawny discount from Lowes, the one behind it was planted 3 years ago, it came from a lake a mile away.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
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They look great. How is the garland doing? I ask because I remember that it had metal in them and want to see how it is holding up.
Brian Retired Coach Just another day in paradise!
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