Pond Boss Forums INTRO New Forum Member Introduction New Member in Iowa

Your 'oops' have created problems for you. With your current fish combination the goldfish will not do you any favors. Why have them; not much fun on the end of a fish pole, and not good to eat - mostly all problems. What they do or will do when they become abundant is make the pond visibility around 6"-12". As food becomes short supply they work the sediments for foods.

Commonly with fishes you now have, routinely the pond water will be clearest when the ice melts and until the water warms to around 48-55F. Then your bottom stirring fish become active and resuspend silt and the aerator helps keep it mixed. Low visibility will ruin your fly fishing success and reduce pond productivity for fish growth.

To adequately control reproducing goldfish you will need to add largemouth and allow them to become abundant and not get much bigger than 12". At this point I would be adding at least several 6"-9" LMB plus some fingerlings 3"-4". Abundant LMB should keep your goldfish reproduction controlled. You could have had a goldfish hatch last year? If not you will this year, and will need LMB to control overpopulating goldfish and later crappie.

The other problem with goldfish is with the resulting cloudy water the crappie will have a hard time finding enough good to grow. Over population of small crappie will be another fish management problem. With fairly clear water 18"-30" the LMB will be able to fairly well control small crappie and goldfish. This might make you pond a fairly decent fishery. HSB will also help control crappie but not likely goldfish; maybe, maybe not? Time will answer that question for you. Remove every goldfish and crappie that you catch which may not be enough numbers removed.

When your water becomes turbid of 6"-10" clarity, predator fish will not be able to reduce enough of the offending species to obtain clearer water. Then a complete fish removal is the your best option.