Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Ice-out, ridiculous water clarity

For the third year in a row upon ice-out I have clarity clear to the 15 foot bottom. It clouds up once life gets going when it warms (or like last year we have flooding), but it sure is cool to be able to use polarized glasses and the fish so well.

I just love this stuff!

I'm sure others experience this as well, but I am wondering how common this kind of clarity is?

Our pond is clear, very much so, between December through April. Beginning May visibility begins decreasing from 9 feet of visibility and continues through August where we have usually around 4-5 feet of visibility and then the process starts over again in December. Some pics here;

http://forums.pondboss.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=439924&page=5

Snow cover + ice = reduced or no sunlight penetration into the water = 0 phytoplankton or minimal phytoplankton growth. That is where the clarity comes from. Also, no mechanical mixing (waves) so everything settled out too.

Every Winter we clear up to around 8-10', but this year I could see my green monster light 50' away fishing at dusk/evening. That was a record - bite was tough until dusk due to extreme clarity. Learned a lot this Winter on my ice bite.

I have early season phytoplankton bloom going, deep dark shade of emerald but still great clarity - around 8' still, beautiful water. Love this time of year - fish feeding off the chain like never before, too. Throwing 3x as much as usual and they're cleaning up all pellets in 4-5 minutes.

My pond is more clear then ever. I like to think I helped developed it this way with lots of plants, clams, snails, grass filtered water runoff, lots of algae eating tadpoles and no bottom stirring fish. For what ever reason it is a real pleasure to see pond life clearly in the depths.

Since December, whenever there's no ice, I've very much enjoyed watching my brookies in the little pond. It's almost like they're in green tinted air!

Our pond is clarity is usually clear from fall through spring.

Once the water warms it rotates between clear and stained depending primarily on phytoplankton and zooplankton action. Submergent plant life grows rapidly and adds to water color during this period as well.

Generally speaking fishing catching will be easier with stained water. As TJ alluded, fishing after dusk and before dawn when the water is clear are the most productive times.