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#382946 07/21/14 07:04 PM
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I didn't want to hijack a previous thread, so I thought it best if I pose my question here.
I have a 1.5 acre pond in southern MN that was dug in 2009. LMB and BG were put in last summer and they're already 9 and 8 inches, respectively. HOWEVER! I am also the unpleasant owner of a nice school of bullheads which I am working to get under control with minnow traps and aggressive fishing (22 pulled out on a hook so far).
Here's the issue: for the first time, I have algae bloom. I'm speculating that it's caused by the record amount of rain this year giving me a bunch of runoff from a neighboring field, and also from the bullheads stirring up nutrients from the bottom.
I had thought about introducing crayfish as another food source for the LMB, as well as being a nice people treat every now and then. Will crayfish also serve as weed and FA control? Is there a native species I should be looking for in MN?

Thanks all,

Last edited by czimmerm; 07/21/14 07:04 PM.

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Disregard - Google and the PB search engine are now my friend!


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I have spent so much time reading google PB searches on my I pad its crazy. Great resource for the hobby.


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I would love to hear what you found out via Google. Would you mind sharing?

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I highly doubt you could stock enough crayfish to make a noticeable impact on FA. Best practice would be to put in as much grass to filter runoff from the field to reduce the nutrients entering, mainly Phosphorous and other phosphates. Also try establishing other plants that will compete with the FA for the available nutrient. Bullheads can be really hard to control, especially once they muddy up the water because the bass can't see them to eat enough.

If you have native craws in a nearby creek, create a good habitat for them and they will come naturally. Just be sure they are not ones that burrow, or you may find they love poking holes in your dam. Look for mud chimney's in nearby creeks....

Last edited by Rainman; 02/02/15 01:25 PM.


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In my personal experience of 2014, dense crayfish populations in a fishery with little to no predation [my BG/YP pond] did indeed denude the pond of all algae and vegetation - including Chara, FA, sago and american pondweed. I was shocked at the condition of this pond after the season. However, in the presence of any apex predators like SMB, LMB, WE, etc. I am not sure one could preserve the population density needed for complete vegetation control like I experienced.


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Your LMB will not allow enough crayfish to survive to control FA. As TJ says without significant fish predation crayfish can easily denude a pond. I use crayfish to control all plant growth in my minnow production pond.


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Here is a thread that has some links that might be useful.

Types of crayfish


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I know of a lake in Wisconsin that was denuded of almost all underwater vegetation by invasive Rusty Crayfish. Even with SMB in the lake, but there is a huge amount of cover for the crayfish to hide in during the day. At night, there was about 1+ crayfish per square foot walking around the bottom of the lake. So, in a 1 acre pond that would mean over 44,000 crayfish.....


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LUKKYSeven
You had posted about your success with crayfish to maintain a sustaining population? Any updates on that project?

Do Perch eat small crayfish when minnows are abundant or stick to minnows?

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Yes, YP and BG will utilize YOY crayfish as forage, YP can continue using them until they are beyond their gape. In the pond I cite above 95% of all Crayfish I seined were adults, 4"+, while the remaining 5% were around 2-3". Very little recruitment - YP and BG were likely dialed in on them. In another instance, Scott and I sampled an 11" YP in fyke net with the claw of about a 2" crayfish protruding from it.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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TJ...do you feel it would be ok to place adult frogs and adult
crayfish into a Texas pond this time of year or far better to wait a
couple of months until water temps rise?

It is predicted to be 74 degrees this coming Saturday,
but I am sure water temp is still cold.


Fishing has never been about the fish....

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Yo Z

I don't know your water temps down there, but that's what I always use [water temps]as a guide for stocking. I don't move fish in temps below 50s, and usually wait until temps are in the upper 50s and low 60s. No clue how crays or frogs would respond to handling in water temps below this level, but unless you are dying for a project [which I totally get, incidentally], I'd wait until temps are steady in the 50s at least. Don't you have a tree to fell, limb, buck and split? Maybe dig a hole, then fill it in again? grin


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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TJ...I know you're probably right..placing them into cold water might not be best. But yes I am itching to do something. I have a large burn-pile maybe I will light it this weekend and stand by with a fire extinguisher in one hand and a cocktail in the other.



Fishing has never been about the fish....

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Zep
Now that's what I'm talking about! Looks like my burn pile

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I like your plan - just one suggestion: Leave the fire extinguisher on the ground, and replace it with a second cocktail. It's thirsty work, after all.


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Pat I have a couple about that size that need a burning.
Had a mini-tornado come thru awhile back and knocked down
a bunch of trees.

Ha Ha @ TJ!
I had that same idea (2 drinks) a few years ago in Vegas.



Fishing has never been about the fish....

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I like the cut of your jib, Zep. When in Rome, after all....


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Zep

We just cleared about 2 acres on our country place to build a house overlooking the pond. The work is just starting


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Originally Posted By: Pat Williamson
Zep...We just cleared about 2 acres on our country place to build a house overlooking the pond. The work is just starting. Pat W

Pat good luck on your journey, ours has been
interesting to say the least...but well worth it.

I would say we are 90% of the way to the finish line.



ps: sorry czimmerm about thread drift
especially since you talked about hijacking a thread...


Fishing has never been about the fish....

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Zep
Thanks, what a beautiful place you have!

We gonna install some mudbugs when it warms a bit to give the crappie and bass something else to munch on.

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Which cabin/mansion is mine?


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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LOL...TJ they are tiny one room cabins..
they look bigger because we used big logs.


Fishing has never been about the fish....

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Are you politely sidestepping my original query? I suppose I'll be relegated to an moth ridden Tepee somewhere on the back 40...


Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~ Henry David Thoreau

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Originally Posted By: Zep
LOL...TJ they are tiny one room cabins..
they look bigger because we used big logs.


TJ, Mark (Zep) is being extremely modest. It's as beautiful place as I've ever seen. But, I'm glad it's not mine. If it was, I'd never leave his fire pit and zero work would ever get done. Think Richmond Mills.


AL

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