Hello All, I am the new care taker of a 4 year old pond. The pond is 1 acre and at the end with the docks it is 14 feet at the deepest point for swimming. The pond is stocked with a bunch of rather large catfish that I feed every day for a little enjoyment and relaxation. There is one Albino catfish in the mix. There is also Bream, Bass and some Goggle Eye and for some I think they may call it a sunfish. I guessing here. The Bass are long and skinny and probably less than a pound. I would like to figure out what to do with the bass to get them to grow bigger. I do have some nice size bream and it looks like it might me two different kinds. Big riff-raff rock line the perimeter of the pond and it is a challenge to maintain the grass that grows. I have tried a couple of things and I think I am creating a plant or muck problem by weed eating and letting the grass fly into the water. That is my first order of business; to control the grass in the rocks. The pond has two water falls one on either side that pump from the pond and recirculate back into the pond. The grass and foliage around the house is irrigated from the pond by the means of three separate pumps. The pond water is naturally filled with rain water and with drainage from the neighborhood across the street via drainage pipe that was installed when the pond was built. The pond water overflows into a bottom behind the levee. In the beginning I said that I was the caretaker of the pond and that is because the ducks really own the pond. Over the past 5 months we have gone from the original 3 to 14. The newest litter is mallards and we currently have 8 little ducklings that are growing and trying to fit in with the rest of the gang. It is interesting to watch these guys and learn their habits. So, If someone could point me in the right direction to first of all manage the grass in the rocks that would be very helpful then on to managing the fish. I will post pictures when I figure out how.
Welcome to PB. Sounds like the LMB are overpopulated. Grass in the rocks can be sprayed with the appropriate herbicide if you don't want to remove it by hand. Take a look at the link below and read a few basics on ponds.
I too live in MS. Rip rap without a geotec beneath is a problem. I have rip rap in the spillway of my pond and fight tree growth and grass. Round up is your best friend. It will not hurt your fish but will control the growth of plants.
Your bass are competing with the catfish. If you want healthy bass with good size, thin your cats out of the pond. Bass are lazy and need more bream to eat with little effort to predate. Cats are shark like and if they are swimming, they are looking to eat.
.gif)
