Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction Fish Holding Pen........

I am building a fish holding pin that measures 3' x 3' x 6'. It will stand on end allowing the fish to drop to 5'-6' depth.

I am wanting to hold fish in this pin for several days or up to a week until I get ready to eat them. Total depth of the water in this area is 8' and will be shaded by the dock from the afternoon sun.

How long can I expect to keep them healthy without feeding them? This area is abundent minnows, brim and bugs.

Target species will be BC and maybe a few brim. Would like to stock maybe a dozen fish at a time.

T-bar,
...nice pen...years ago, we had a place on False River, an old oxbow lake in south central LA. We had a similar "live well" attached to our pier. When we caught keeper gills and crappie, we just threw them in the well. We had them in there in many cases for a couple weeks. As long as they are not too overcrowded or the water gets too hot or stagnant, I would think they would be ok. Try a handful for a short period and go from there. I think catfish would be more stressed by the cage than sunfish. Post a pic when you're done.

Tbar,

That looks good man I have one very close to that but half the size. Here it is. We kept these fish in it for about a week in about 15 inches of water no problems.

Thanks for the pic. I am trying to decide if I should wrap to the inside or the outside of the PVC. My netting is plasticc

If you wrap the inside, when you use a net to get the fish out, they won't be able to hide behind the PVC pipe like they do when the netting is on the outside of the cage/pen.

Cage is complete.....delivering to the dock.



It is very buoyant so I drilled holes in it so it would sink. I have two sets of mounting brackets.....one set low and one set high when you want to net them out.





Fishing is great right next to the cage. First resident.



Feed in the basket is to try and draw in minnows. BG's are beating on the corner of the cage trying to get at it.

15 BC in the cage now and most will get eaten tomorrow for lunch.

Nice looking holding pen and really good looking dock. Last year I built myself a holding pen very similar to yours. I went to pull it out of the water to get out the bass that I had put in there over a couple of days of fishing only to find a rather large snapping turtle.

Wow...!!!

Nice cage and beautiful dock - well done!

Tbar, you're one of those guys that aggravate me. Ya plan ahead and then make it look nice and work. Nice job !!

This thread is about the pen, but I am staring at the dock the whole time lol. Awesome dock...... and pen too! haha

Very very nice TBAR,
I have an idea that I'm working on and am trying to find a plastic mesh of the correct size. Can you share what the hole size is on the black plastic mesh? What size width and length rolls does it come in? Where did you source it?

I'm trying to find a way to make a fish corral in my pond that stays in place. I'd like a smaller opening or gate and then let it stay in place for fish to get used to it. Then hopefully I can section the pond, attract the fish by pellet feeding and later close the corral to net out unwanted goldfish.

Your mesh size seems to be right to allow the minnows out but keep larger fish in.

Tbar,

I've overwintered fish in a 3' x 3' x 4' cage of similar construction.

I use mine as a holding pen for the next fish dinner, and also for fish that have been deep-hooked or otherwise injured. I hand feed the cage.


Mine is tied to the dock, and floats with kid's pool "noodles." The noodles also keep feed from floating out.

Great looking job and dock.

This is the product I used.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/HDX-3-ft-x-25-ft-Black-PVC-Poultry-Fence-889240HD/204331921/

What are ya'll using for a lid to keep birds out? What size mesh would I need to keep snakes out? Anyone had problems with birds or snakes in their box?

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I built a similar one and floated it with those pool noodles like Catmandoo, but had a couple problems.

First, the noodles floated it so the top was just a couple inches above the water and though it worked well for holding my HBG and BG, the catfish would go over the top every time. I lost several, including my daughter's 5 lb pond record - not very happy with Daddy the next morning. I like the way you have it, Tbar, suspended up outa the water a bit.

Second problem is that by the end of the first summer, the noodles had been exposed to the sun too long and began shedding little pieces that would get all over your hands and could be seen floating in the water.

Thanks for posting those pictures, I hadn't thought of hanging it off the side of the dock.

Here is my cage with the lid. I put 3 coats of Fort Thompsons sealer on it and it works fine for now. I know it's wood and I may have to replace sooner or later but it works.

I made cages 2 ways, with a top that is loosly zip tied to the top rail of the cage, or by using larger "T"'s and using them as hinges.


Using gallon milk jugs bleach bottles as floats:

Do all the pictures show 1" schedule 40 pvc?

I like what everyone is doing but have a quick question. Would a collapsible metal floating fish basket work? Seems simple and I have seen them 18"x30" in size. That should hold a lot of cnbg and small bass. Just hang it from the side of your dock or pontoon boat in my case. Pros and cons? Something I'm missing? Are they just not big enough?

I do replace the noodles near the beginning of each season. I wait for Wally-World to put their pool supplies and pool toys on sale when I can get them for about dollar a piece.

I too have had an issue with the catfish. They are the only fish that escape, even though I have a top. Half of the top on that cage is just held in place by its own buoyancy. I've held large LMB, HSB, BG, crappie, etc., without any issues.

I've built enough cages to find that there are a number of good plastic fence products of different shapes and colors. All of the ones I've used have come from either Lowes or Home Depot. Some have had square holes, some have had hexagon holes. They have been green, black, or orange. All have worked equally well.

The cable/zip ties are probably the most important. Get good ones that are rated for UV and outdoor use.

Yes. I make the lid a bit longer than the cage is (front to back) so the frame rests on the frame of the cage. I attach a rope to it, flip it away from me and it floats in the pond. I pull on the rope to flip it back over the top of the cage.

Metal "netting" will beat up the fins of the fish. Not a big deal if you are cutting them up, but something that you don't want to happen if you are using the cage to raise the fish to a larger size before releasing them into the pond.