Pond Boss Forums AQUATIC VEGETATION Balance of plants in the environment Cattails

My pond used to have cattails on one side that I caught a lot of good bass from. But the drought knocked them out. I was wondering if I should plant some or if anyone has anything better they would suggest for growing in and around water.

What kind of annual water fluctuation levels do you get?

Oh, do not replant cat tails. Very hard to get rid of and LMB may be attracted to the shade, not the cover. There are better options out there.

It usually holds pretty steady, maybe a foot or so. But it hasnt completely filled up since the drought. Its getting there its just slow.

Any suggestions on what else to use besides cat tails?

2 things that come to mind are American pond weed, and hardy lilies. Both grow from the bottom and provide shade and cover. I like Colorado and Jack Wood lilies.

Bog or shoreline plants really won't give you what your after, and that's fun stuff to fish. One of my favorite plants to fish is primrose, and it's a nuisance plant at best. But, it's a nuisance plant that holds fish. It's very common down here, but can be overwhelming if it gets out of control.

I want lillys but have no idea how to plant them or get them started. I would assume I need to get the FA out...

I just use a spade, and plant them with the majority of the pads just at water level. They spread slowly, so 5-6' apart is what I normally do.

FA isn't an issue, and they should like the excess nutrients that caused the FA.

I gotcha, would it be better to plant them on a shallow slope or deep say like the dam?

Will willow trees grow in the water or just around ir

I will defend the cattails. Yes they are aggressive and you have better love them or they could be your nightmare. They are great filters. FA algae doesn't enter their domain around the shore. Different kinds of life are born and sheltered in cattails. Redwing Blackbirds romance, shelter at night and eat the seeds of the cattails. Tadpoles are incubated, hide and become frogs in the safety of the cattails. And if you are a salad eater the inner white lower section of the leaf reed is great tasting and nutritious. The Blue-Wing Warbler that I took and posted a picture of is rare in our area and I had never seen one before, is fluttering around in the cattails for two days in a row now.

We used to have ducks that stayed in them. But I'm really looking for cover for fish. There hasn't been as many frogs around though.

I agree every pond that has cattails usually has better bass. I they get out of control i used round up and lightly spray some of them alittle at a time and try not to spray the roundup in the water just spray the tops it works good and don't kill fish

My plan was to plant cat tails where the originally were. And the Lilly's in a neck.

If giant burreed grows in your neck of the woods, you may want to consider it rather than cattails.

I'd prefer to see American Pondweed in the pond vs. cattails. Too much of a PITA to control the cattails, and they get thick enough so fish have a VERY hard time navigating thru them, especially any fish over about 3" long.

The only two upsides to cattails IMHO is they are a nutrient sink and they can be a barrier to wadiing GBH's. Otherwise they go nuts in my big pond and try to take it over. I can't seem to have just a few so I nuke them all!