Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Creating habitat Tree Cutting

Anyone here ever cut some of the trees around the bank of their ponds to use as cover for forage fish and LMB. I have two maybe that are on the south and north ends of my pond that would fall in water that tapers off to deeper water . I want to cut them so they don't completely break off from the base as to allow them to green up when they come in season. Any thoughts would be helpful. Luke 5:4.

I plead guilty! (see video in link below)

My brother and I dropped some standing dead trees into our pond.
I caught fish last weekend out of the fallen tree structure.

Personally I like dead timber structure that is not completely submerged.
As a kid I grew up fishing on lakes full of standing dead timber.
I just dig the look and feel of a lake with logs, fallen trees, ect..
Some give it a thumbs down becuz it may attract birds, or it rots away.
Some want a "cleaner look" or a swimming hole, ect....
But I love it.....

Timber!

Maybe I can find some old pictures to post. Several years ago I cut quite a number of oak and hickory trees on the north side of my main pond, and let them fall into the pond. This year I supplemented them with huge oak and hickory roots we pulled from the area of our newest pond.

As far as I can tell, the fish love all of this. Just be prepared to lose lots of hooks in the tangles of branches and roots.

Ken

Thanks guys, I'm trying to create habitat that will grow big fish. As for the loss of hooks....well I would lose 20 for the chance to land a huge LMB who are notorious for making a B-Line toward such cover. I have considered transplanting lily pads as well but will take it one project at a time. Luke 5:4.

EBR....others that know lots more than me will chime in, but from what I've read pond owners need to be very careful with lily pads because they can "takeover" a pond. I love lily pads but have been reluctant to add them because of what I've read. I think some types of lily pads are slightly better than others. Just be careful....

If you drop a tree that has green leaves on it into the pond, the leaf decay will use O2. Also if they are Oaks, be aware of tannic acid leaching into the pond.

I live in Louisiana where cypress trees are common. In fact are state tree is a bald cypress. When my pond was being excavated there were several trunks still underground even as deep as 8 feet before we hit the top of the cypress trunk. The excavator operator dug around them to avoid damaging his bucket and we also felt it would make great habit to leave them. There are about 7 spread throughout my 3rd acre pond. If I allow the water to drop a couple feet it becomes a pain to fish because of the hangups. I loose a lot of hooks, but I usually get the bobber back though. The worst are the big CC's who alot of times run and wrap me around a trunk. Then, I not only lost another hook but also loose a fish that probably wont bite again. I am sure the fish love the trunks, but sometimes I hate them

Thanks for the comments, my learning curve won't be so long now. Luke 5:4.

EBR we have cut and had cut (beaver)both oak and pine trees directly into our waters without problem. It does depend on the situation however. Katrina/Rita put a bunch of trees in the drink also.

Eric,

If you dropped a pine into the water(on a 1 acre pond) would that change your PH very much? Maybe make it more acidic side? Or will 1 or 2 pine not be enough to make a difference?

I will dump a bag of pelleted lime or about 50 lbs of ag lime where the tree lies in the pond. That will offset any increase that may occur. A big pine or oak in a small pond could cause and increase in acidity.

What would you consider a large tree. I have a 1/4 acre pond that has some trees in it (not sure the type as they were pushed in when pond was fixed).

I have also put cedar type tree in there and had thought about adding a few more but do not want to change the water too much.

What level of Acidity would one have to be worried about, as I did not give this much thought.

Thanks

Find out your alkalinity. If low then add ag lime.

It depends. We have tress big enough to fill up much of a 1 acre pond. That is too much IMO. 5 or 6 normal (6 ft) xmas trees in a 1 acre pond is not big deal. If alkalinity is low add some ag lime to offset.