In a "Pond Boss" educated explanation here's what I think is happening. The pond sets in a ditch with trees surrounding 80% of it, it is long, probably 275 yds and 65 - 70 yds wide at the dam. It points east/west but trees keep it from letting the pond get natural wave aeration. The trees drop the leaves every fall and dead trees fall into it (great cover!). The pond has coontail for submerged vegetation and some filamentous algae growing. I have cut some trees but the ditch banks are a good 20 feet higher than the surface on the south and 10-15 feet on the north. In the winter the snow drops in and sets due to the high south bank prohibiting the sun from reaching it. The ice never freezes clear and though I clear some snow in areas it will never get good phytoplankton growth (I think that�s right?). So I think my fish basically suffocate in the winter.
1998 I discovered the property and began dealing to purchase the property; it was loaded with GSF and some LMB. In 1999 I stocked, and bought the property (in that order, due to the pond freezing out (didn't know why). . In 2001 I applied for another stocking from IADNR (LMB, BG, & CC) and stocked again as the pond loaded up with algae, coontail, duckweed, and watermeal. I think the fish went into winter stressed because the pond stopped overflowing in summer of 2000 due to a drought that summer. I was surprised to see no fish that spring. Anyway, the next 6 years seemed to go well although the fall of 2001 I saw some bass and BG die off from a cold October rain, I think it turned the water over and I think poisoned the fish??
In the spring the water after ice out is somewhat turbid but clears it well if no gully washer rains come in. It will clear so you can see about 5ft. I watched the bass build, spawn, and tend to nests for 3 years but every spring we would get torrential downpours and raise the level sometimes 3-4 ft. This clouds up the water and suffocates the eggs (I believe). The pond has an emergency spillway about 3 feet above pool level and I have seen it go over 4 or 5 times, most likely taking some fish. Now, I tried fishing several times and watched constantly last summer after finding several big bass nice BG and a couple giant catfish floating dead under the ice in spring 2008 but never caught or saw anything but BG. they have spawned twice and will spawn a third time this spring with no, or very little predator fish.
My final thoughts are that if I put crappie in at least some of them will be able to survive and keep the BG in check. If and when I decide to bottom aerate I could face a problem but if it's out of control I think I can run the aeration system 24-7 to begin with and kill it off that way. I know this sounds crazy but honestly I cant spend the money right now and to buy the equipment which I think will take around $1300 to get started.
I spilled all I know and every factor so my question is rather adding crappie is a REAL stupid idea or a viable option in my case. As I said before I know it's not what most pond managers see as a good idea but every fishery is not like this one.
In a nut shell I think my problem circulates around the waters DO content. I can float in a life jacket and feel the thermocline or at least the cold water line at my feet, I am 6'.
Thanks again for all opinions!
Last edited by Fishhead; 05/14/09 03:39 PM.
