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#450838 06/29/16 08:50 AM
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I just built a 3/4 acre water shed pond. Has about 10-15 acres runoff to it. Deepest parts are 8 - 9 ft with one end being 2 ft or less in places. This was already a low area that water ran through my property.
Now I am working on creating cover for fish (Bass, Sac-a-Lait, Bluegill, Catfish) before the pond fills.
I am planning on some pallet structure, pvc structures, a couple of root balls, but was considering dropping some whole trees in the pond. Some of them being pine trees. Is there anything negative about pine trees in a pond for cover?

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Last edited by Kaos; 06/29/16 08:54 AM.
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I'm not aware of any problems with pines but stay away from oaks.

You might also reconsider the crappies in anything less than 25 to 30 acres.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson1
might also reconsider the crappies in anything less than 25 to 30 acres.


ok, wasn't aware of an issue with pond size and common freshwater game fish. Glad I asked. I haven't really decided what to put, just want the kids to catch fish when they go fishin'.

Last edited by Kaos; 06/29/16 09:10 AM.
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At 3/4 acre, I would consider channel cats, hybrid bluegills and hybrid stripers with a feeder.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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If this is a new pond, be very VERY intentional about what you put in and what order you put it in. Many of us wished we waited to stock the larger fish for at least a FULL year after structure went in. Your growing season down south is longer than up north here and your forage fish can pull off more spawns, but still, your predators will decimate your forage in no time flat (months) Then you can't add diversity as the predators will eat the stocker fish like expensive snacks.

other southern pond owners can advise on forage but if you don't winter kill or have significant cold weather it opens a host of forage options to you that we don't have up north.

Certainly you can do standard fare minnows (FHM) but consider other minnow types such as bluntnose, shiners of all types, (spotfins, blackchin, etc), crayfish, ghost shrimp (you should be able to use either the northern or southern variety and let them multiply till there are millions of them, tilapia (although they probably will winterkill), etc.

Then consider that adding other varieties of panfish after predators are in place can be expensive as you have to stock adults forage or adult panfish rather than 1"-2" young panfish.

If I was in the south I'd love to have some variety to the sunfish or bluegill beyond straight BG, hybrids, or RES. Can you grow the colorful southern longear sunfish (ozark variety)? How about western dollar sunfish? Is there a southern pumpkinseed variety?

Another cool forage species that may do well once established depending on how clear your water is the lake chubsucker (LCS).

There are some pictures and prices for small quantities here:

Zimmerman

Others with southern ponds who have dreams of expanding their forage or wish they could have added something else earlier, please chime in.

Having a clean slate is a wonderful thing and planning ahead will save hassles later.

Once you put a single bass or a single catfish in (or once someone thinks they are helping you by bucket stocking their catch in your pond without your knowledge) all your plans go out the window and the regrets start....


Last edited by canyoncreek; 06/29/16 04:04 PM.
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Originally Posted By: Kaos
I just built a 3/4 acre water shed pond. Has about 10-15 acres runoff to it. Deepest parts are 8 - 9 ft with one end being 2 ft or less in places. This was already a low area that water ran through my property.
Now I am working on creating cover for fish (Bass, Sac-a-Lait, Bluegill, Catfish) before the pond fills.
I am planning on some pallet structure, pvc structures, a couple of root balls, but was considering dropping some whole trees in the pond. Some of them being pine trees. Is there anything negative about pine trees in a pond for cover?


Kaos, I have an east Texas pond in the pines myself, and I can tell you that you will likely have issues with alkalinity and pH. Be sure to thoroughly lime the pond at a rate of 4 or 5 tons per acre (so 3 to 4 tons), well worked into the soil. You might also consider putting down another ton or two along the areas that drain into the pond.

I put 14 tons on the pond bottom on expert advice, then decided to put in 14 more on my own. It hasn't been enough to keep the pH above 6. So I'm now going to spend even more money having another liming done from a boat.

Sac-a-lait and catfish are great for eating, but if you want large bass for sport, I'd reconsider. FHM, CNBG, RES, and maybe even GSH would be better. Unfortunately, tilapia are illegal to stock in Louisiana.

Also, I highly recommend a Texas Hunter feeder & good BG feed, like Aquamax MVP or Optimal. They will fatten up your panfish quickly, which will also fatten up your bass!


7ac 2015 CNBG RES FHM 2016 TP FLMB 2017 NLMB GSH L 2018 TP & 70 HSB PK 2019 TP RBT 2020 TFS TP 25 HSB 250 F1,L,RBT -206 2021 TFS TP GSH L,-312 2022 GSH TP CR TFS RBT -234, 2023 BG TP TFS NLMB, -160




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One or 2 pines in the water shouldn't change your water PH that much. I have pine all around my pond "live ones" and 1 or 2 in my pond my PH stays around 6.5 to 6.7 but I have pines all around my pond... Which I am getting rid of this winter, but 1 or 2 dropped in your pond should be ok.

Ant,

You must have some serious soil issues to put that much lime in your pond and not budged on your PH?? Although they say it's a slow process to raise it. How long have you had all that lime in your pond?

RC


The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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Thanks for the replies.

Canyoncreek, Thanks for the details.

Anthropic, I sure hope I don't have those issues. I have a million things to do on my property including building a house. Hoping the pond to be a nice easy to manage plus rather than a regret. Thanks for the info on the lime.

RC51, yeah, 1 or 2 small pines is all I am talking about. My goal is to continue to take out all pines too. Thanks.

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Originally Posted By: Dave Davidson1
I'm not aware of any problems with pines but stay away from oaks.

You might also reconsider the crappies in anything less than 25 to 30 acres.
What is bad about oak trees?

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RRWJ,

Oak trees can make your pond toxic I guess from something in the oaks bark called tannin.... it turns your pond a tea brown color. I'll leave it at that because that's about all I know about it. smile

It can be dangerous to your pond though. Dave has first hand experience in that...

RC


The only difference between a rut and a Grave is the depth. So get up get out of that rut and get moving!! Time to work!!
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IMO Stay away from Mulberry as well as oak, at least green ones. I dropped a green stick of mulberry in a bucket of water with some small BG and they were dead in a couple hours.

Last edited by Bill D.; 06/30/16 07:31 PM.

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Guys, I have access to a bunch of oak branches. Not sure but I think they are live oaks. My pond is 1 acre and only has 2 to 3 foot of water in certain spots. Question is would ya'll use the oak, test fresh cut pieces of it in an ice chest or not use is at all???? My goal in the next couple months is to stock with FHM, CNBG and LMB. I am looking for structure ideas. Just looks like my pond is soo empty. Your thoughts please.


1 1/4 acre L shaped pond, 6 to 9 ft deep. Finished 7/7/16. Stocked with LMB, HBG, BG, CNBG, RES, FHM. Can't wait to fish it. GO SAINTS!!!
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The tannins in oak will stain the water to look like tea! That's what mine looks like. I would use oak only if they were dead and leafless and about a year old.

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Kaos, when my first pond was built, I put a bunch of oaks in the bottom for structure. Admittedly, they were fresh and not seasoned. The water turned inky but I went ahead and stocked. Everything died with a day. I treated with enough chlorine (also a bad idea) to kill everything in an Olympic sized pool. I did it 3 times and fish in minnow buckets still died. I finally pumped it dry, let the Texas summer dry everything and prayed for rain.


It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP

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