Forums36
Topics41,084
Posts559,374
Members18,577
|
Most Online3,612 Jan 10th, 2023
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20 |
I would like to add some rock piles to my ponds to help with LMB spawning. Was thinking about getting some 2-3 inch rock as it is pretty cheap. Would this be a good size or would another size work better?
John (Northern Missouri)
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20
Lunker
|
OP
Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 20 |
I failed to ask if smaller rock (say 1 inch gravel or sand) would be better than the 3" gravel. I will only get one load, so I'd like to get the best size possible that's within my budget.
John (Northern Missouri)
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,042 Likes: 301
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,042 Likes: 301 |
I would personally go for stuff in the pea gravel/shot sand size range, under the assumption that it would be easier for nesting LMB to move than larger gravel.
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13 |
Hey John,
I'm south of you down Joplin way. See if you can find a load of creek gravel, alot cheaper then quarry rock and much better. I had no trouble finding it for $125.00 a load delivered last month. Should be available in your area too.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 320
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 320 |
John, How far north are you? There are several river rock dredging operations along the Missouri river between KC and ST. Joseph. It would be much cheaper to get it from them than to buy from a hauler.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 350
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 350 |
i didn't put any gravel in and the bass and gills still spawned. why bother?
i only wanted to have some fun
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,185 Likes: 507
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,185 Likes: 507 |
ken - over the long haul the percentage of successful spawns will be higher when bass have gravel coarse sand substrates. Bgill and bass can successfully spawn in firm bottom clay substrates but in marginal conditions or situations gravel substrates out perform firm clay bottoms. Many ponds can function with marginal spawning successes. It all depends.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1
Hall of Fame Lunker
|
Hall of Fame Lunker
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 20,043 Likes: 1 |
If you can find some some cut off plastic drums to put pea gravel in you may be better off. Many times gravel on a soft bottom get's absorbed into the bottom and silted in.
If pigs could fly bacon would be harder to come by and there would be a lot of damaged trees.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 253
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 253 |
Cecil, have you tried that method succesfully? I cut plastic barrel in half, and filled both parts about 6" deep with pea gravel. My water is chocolate color, so I can't see what is happening. But after couple of years I pulled them out and they look unused (no nest shaped depressions). I wonder if the high edges had something to do with it. Now I sank 12'x12' tarp to keep the gravel from sinking into the mud and am in the process of creating 4" deep layer of pea gravel on top.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,185 Likes: 507
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
|
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 15,185 Likes: 507 |
Ed - The cut-off barrel with gravel for sunfish and bass spawning works best if the gravel is within 1"-3" of the rim of the barrel.
aka Pond Doctor & Dr. Perca Read Pond Boss Magazine - America's Journal of Pond Management
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,042 Likes: 301
Moderator Lunker
|
Moderator Lunker
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 14,042 Likes: 301 |
Bill & Ed:
So using barrels as gravel holders should be most successful if you use the ends of the barrels as pans, leaving perhaps a 6" lip on it to hold the gravel in?
This would leave an open-ended cylinder from the middle of the barrel for other structure use (hmm?).
"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever." -S. M. Stirling
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 350
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 350 |
personally i really don't want my bass having great spawning conditions. as long as my bluegills are spawning great , thats all i care about. too many bass then i will have to weed them out. i only have acre pond.
i only wanted to have some fun
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7
Junior Member
|
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 7 |
I have noticed my largemouth and smallmouth pair (each IN a 125 gallon fish tank) spawn on large flat rocks v.s. rounded stone pits like sunfish ive had- the smallmouth clutches are much smaller and the largemouth like a rock that is like a shallow bowl. The fry are protected vigorously. My largemouth male will attack my hand but my smallmouth doesnt care if i have a crayfish for him.
Same game, new game board.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 253
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 253 |
Theo,
I don't think that my setup got used, but I had over 6" of the barrell wall sticking up above the pea gravel. I thought that they would like it, because they would only have the up direction to defend, but I think they might have felt boxed in. If you do it, you should keep the edges 1-3" hihg, like Bill suggests. After my pond enlargement, I now have some flat areas, where I don't have to worry about the gravel sliding off the tarp. Also, it will provide environment for more natural nest colony.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 102
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 102 |
This is a great time of year to add spawning beds. I use aluminum roasting pans and fill to within 1" of top with pea gravel. The roasting pans are plentiful and cheap due to the hollidays. I bought mine at Wallmart for $1 each. The aluminum pans will last much longer than plastic and require no cutting.
Merry Christmas
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4
Junior Member
|
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 4 |
My brother is Canepole and we put a load of 12"-18" rip rap in the pond and made several stacks,8 I think,what were we providing habitat for? I thought it was for LMB, am I mistaken? JD Pool
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,892
Lunker
|
Lunker
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,892 |
Nearly all fish will orient on structure. LMB will especially orient there if it is properly located.
|
|
|
Moderated by Bill Cody, Bruce Condello, catmandoo, Chris Steelman, Dave Davidson1, esshup, ewest, FireIsHot, Omaha, Sunil, teehjaeh57
|
|
|
|
Algae
by Boondoggle - 06/14/24 10:07 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|