Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations American pondweed question

I have some American Pondweed scattered around my BOW, I guess brought it naturally since I didn't plant any.

From what I understand from Bob Lusk & the other experts, this is a good plant to have, providing shelter for fry & YOY fish. My pond is both infertile and mostly steep sloping, so definitely need more cover for the little guys.

Question: Would I be better off letting it (slowly) spread naturally, or could I hasten the process by taking some plugs and deliberately planting them around?

Anybody had experience with this plant?

I am trying to figure out why I can't get it going at my pond. After two attempts I don't see an today. Not sure why? Turtles, crawfish or deer eating it. Last fall it seemed to sprout up 10 to 30 yds from where it was planted. I'm guessing that is why it spreads out in others ponds. But, I've been waiting for it to come back this year and so far NOTHING!

Tracy, how far did your pond drop this winter? I've had spotty APW when we had the big water fluctuations. I don't think we've dropped over 1' in the last 4 years, and PW is everywhere. Drought sensitive perhaps?

anthropic, I've transplanted it, and let it spread naturally. Both worked, so I just let it spread by itself now. It's very preferred plant for me, and it does provide excellent warm season shoreline cover for fry and fingerlings.

Tracy
I have a pondweed that looks like American Pondweed but the leaves are much smaller,than the regular stuff, it’s all around the pond and it dies back in the fall.

Tracy, I had some beautiful Duck Potato that either the deer or the beaver ate. However, nothing seems to have touched the Am Pondweed. Sounds like maybe your crawfish got them.

I am thinking about obtaining and planting APW for our 3 BOWs. I have grass carp in these ponds and I am assuming I will need to "fence in" the APW so the GC can't get to it and it can get started? That is question #1.

Question #2: Is APW easy to control or does it take a lot of work or chemicals? I like plants that do not get out of control quickly. I have had my fill of submerged plants like coontail and sago pondweed.....they are tough to get under control if you aren't paying attention for a few weeks....they grow and spread way too fast.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated. thanks. BM61.

Others are far more expert on APW than I am, but I can say that it seems to spread rather slowly in my BOW.

I have a plant that is similar: Potamogeton Diversifolis ( waterthread pondweed)
Not sure if that is what you have or the true American pondweed. Mine dies off in late summer an comes back in spring

Thanks, Pat. I checked and frankly am not sure if it a variety of American Pondweed or your plant. They look a lot alike!

Hopefully I can fertilize again and help promote more growth, my pond desperately needs places for fry & YOY fish to shelter.

Al, the APW grew best in low water conditions and died back during the low water temps I saw this winter. And then we had high water and I thought maybe the plant was too deep with 18 to 21" visibility at the time I thought it should have been coming back. Now I am at 24" visibility with no APW.

Pat, sounds like an interesting plant. Does it get thick enough to provide cover? I found in my fishing lakes, I could most always catch a bass or two when fishing isolated apw patches.

Frank, you could be right about crawfish eating it. I found a few molting skeletal remains at the waters edge a few weeks ago and I believe I have some that took up residence in the pond. I also suspected my cloudy water last fall and early winter may have been due to crawfish hatch???

Plans are to replant the APW as soon as I can find some locally I can transplant.