Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Identifying plants What is this weed?

Got my boat out in my pond. It is around 12 acres with an average depth of 8 feet. There is one small area that is deeper but the weed doesn't seem to grow deeper than 8 feet. The shallows are going to have a surface mat soon if it keeps growing.

What is the best way to knock it down. We sprayed the whole lake with Sonar two years ago and there was a major fish kill off after ice out the following winter. We fished for four hours and caught 95 bass but only three were over 14 inches. But, the bass and bluegills love this stuff. I don't know if we need to kill all the weeds or if there is a better way.



Thank you!

Jonesy

Are tilapia legal where you live?

Tilapia are unrestricted in Indiana in private waters and would have a field day eating!!!

O.K. I think it is curly leaf pondweed from my research tonight. You say tilapia. Do they grow in northeast Indiana? Would I have to restock them each year? Are they competitive with bluegill?

It looks like what you think it is, but for a positive id a picture of it in your hand would be great.

Yes, Tilapia grow in Indiana, but only when the water temp is above 50°F. Blue Tilapia will survive down to 45°F and they would have to be re-stocked every year. They don't compete with BG per se, and they provide a great food source for the LMB in the pond.

They help ponds in other ways too, and I plan on putting them in my pond again this year.

I'll be getting mine from Rainman, and I think he's planning on a stocking run in this area the 2nd full week of May. Rex????

twelve acres will require a lot of tilapia to eat that stuff but I would rather do that than put in chemicals and yes you do have to restock each year. You will probably need about a hundred pounds

If you wanna cut the stuff, the lake mower goes right through it like a knife through hot butter. Could be an option as opposed to a yearly cost.